November 10, 1999

Messengers vote to study mission organizations and seminaries
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___EL PASO--In the coming year, Texas Baptists will undertake intensive studies of the mission-sending agencies and theological seminaries they fund.
___In addition, the convention's officers have been asked to consider simplifying the five missions funding options churches currently must choose from when sending Cooperative Program gifts through the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___These were among a series of motions adopted by messengers to the BGCT's annual session in El Paso Nov. 9.
___Amid higher-profile motions on the Baptist Faith & Message and recognition of associations, messengers acted on a total of 10 motions during the two-day annual session at the El Paso Civic Center. The motions covered issues ranging from missions funding to capital punishment.
___Two motions contained nearly identical wording, one calling for a committee to study the "financial resources, theological positions and mission strategy and philosophy" of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board and North American Mission Board as well as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The other called for a committee to study the "financial resources, theological positions and philosophies of Southern Baptist and BGCT-supported seminaries."
___Both committees are to be appointed by the BGCT president and newly elected chair of the BGCT Executive Board. Both committees are to report their findings to the Executive Board.
___The missions agency committee was proposed by Nathan Porter, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco and a retired home missionary.
___"The way we Southern Baptists do missions has changed," Porter said. "If we are better informed, we will be better able to pray, support and go."
___The seminary committee was proposed by Bill Shiell of First Baptist Church in McGregor.
___"Two issues confront Texas Baptists in the changing theological landscape of our seminaries," Shiell said. "One is rising cost. The second is the variety of approaches and philosophies."
___Both motions were approved by messengers with little discussion and few opposing votes.
___Another motion, proposed by Jim Kolb of The Woods Baptist Church in Tyler, asked BGCT Executive Director-elect Charles Wade and the newly elected BGCT officers to "immediately begin to work with the Administrative Committee to develop a simplified budget system that is not as confusing as having five budget options while protecting the right of any church to give as they so choose."
___Prior to years of theological and political controversy that drove a wedge between the BGCT and the SBC, churches sending missions gifts to through the BGCT had only one option for gifts to be counted as Cooperative Program contributions. In those days, the state convention established a percentage split each year, with a portion of Cooperative Program contributions funding BGCT ministries and a portion forwarded to SBC causes.
___Since then, a variety of giving options have been created to allow church contributions to be counted as Cooperative Program gifts while adding to or deleting from the once-traditional list of Cooperative Program beneficiaries.
___Baptists who support the current direction of the SBC generally have opposed these new options, while those who disagree with the SBC's direction have advocated the increase in options.
___Despite the variety of new options, a majority of BGCT churches continue to send their gifts through the traditional plan that funds both the BGCT and SBC.
___Some moderate Texas Baptists in recent years have called for the BGCT to do away with what they see as the "default" option that continues to send millions of dollars to SBC agencies. Some have advocated that Texas Baptist institutions ought to receive more money instead of sending so much to SBC institutions out of state. Others have advocated a Texas-only budget that would force all churches to make new decisions about funding Baptist work beyond Texas.
___Kolb's motion did not specifically address any of these scenarios, though.
___ "The purpose of this amendment is that I am basically the assistant treasurer of The Woods Baptist Church," he explained. "Between myself and the pastor, we could not figure out how to fill out the form" churches send in to the BGCT.
___Given that experience, he said, he hopes the convention will "study how we can revise this form so an average person can fill it out."
___Other motions asked that:
___ The BGCT Christian Life Commission provide "in-depth resources to Texas Baptists on the issue of capital punishment." The motion was offered by Charles Wise of Trinity Baptist Church in Gatesville. It was affirmed by messengers.
___ The BGCT Executive Board "devise a five-year plan to create regional satellite convention locations" for the annual session. The motion was made by Allan Lane of Fort Graham Baptist Church in Whitney. It was referred to the Executive Board.
___Bill Pinson be named "honorific executive director" of the BGCT upon his retirement. The committee on order of business ruled that this motion, by Otto Arango of Gethsemane Baptist Church in McAllen, was unnecessary because Pinson already has been named executive director emeritus.
___ The convention "have a time of prayer for our brothers and sisters in the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention." The motion was made by Bubba Stahl, pastor of First Baptist Church of Boerne, who made a similar motion last year when the breakaway convention formed. After approval by messengers, BGCT President Russell Dilday asked Stahl to lead the prayer. Stahl asked God to "complete the good work you have begun in our brothers and sisters … give them unity, give them peace, give them a hunger and thirst for your word."






___

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!