Former SBC Professor/Pastor Matthew Queen Receives Sentence For Lying to Federal Investigators

Staff Writer

Months after pleading guilty to one charge of making false statements to the FBI and facing up to five years in prison, former pastor, professor and interim provost at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS), Matthew Queen, has been sentenced to six months of house arrest. According to the Christian Post:

In a six-page judgment on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York Lewis Kaplan sentenced Queen to six months of home confinement during which time he is not allowed to leave except to get medical care for himself or his wife or with permission from his probation officer. He will also have to wear an electronic monitor.

Queen was ordered to participate in an outpatient mental health treatment program, not incur any new lines of credit or credit charges without the permission of his probation officer and pay a total of $2,100 in fines and assessments.

The judge in the case seemed to be moved by Queen’s testimony of repentance over what he had done, along with nearly 60 letters from friends and colleagues vouching for him and pleading on his behalf.

Last year the Department of Justice indicted Queen on charges of obstructing justice, with FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith explaining that he “failed to inform the FBI of a conspiracy to destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation of sexual misconduct and instead produced falsified notes to investigators.”

Queen has been a prominent figure in Southern Baptist circles, mainly known for his role at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Queen held the prestigious L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism, also known as the “Chair of Fire,” at SWBTS.

His tenure at the seminary began in 2010, following his service in pastoral ministry in North Carolina. Queen was highly regarded for his dedication to evangelism, often participating in and leading efforts to share the gospel within the community and beyond.

While at SWBTS, Queen was a regular commentator on evangelism within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He emphasized the importance of obedience in evangelism, encouraging Christians to overcome their fears and engage in gospel conversations actively.

In February 2024, Queen announced his return to pastoral ministry in his home state of North Carolina. He was called to serve as the pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro but was put on leave following the indictment and has since resigned.

A press release form the church read:

“Dr. Matthew Queen is stepping down from his role as Lead Pastor at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, effective immediately. While this has been a challenging season, we continue to trust in God’s sovereignty and remain focused on our mission. As we move forward, we encourage our congregation and the wider community to stay focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”