TOGETHER:
Texans 'have not dismantled the Cooperative Program'
___At the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session in Corpus Christi this fall, we discussed doctrinal principles and strategies for training ministers. At the heart of the discussion was how we would recommend that churches give their Cooperative Program dollars.
___Each church will make its own decisions. That is as it should be. Following the example of Paul, the BGCT will be responsible to you in how your gifts are used. The apostle was collecting money from the churches to help the Christians in Jerusalem. As he

CHARLE WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

wrote to encourage the Corinthian church to give generously, he said: "We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men" (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).
___The task of the executive director of the BGCT is to "elicit, combine and direct" the financial resources which are trusted to us by the churches. I want to do that in such a way that God's work is done, people are saved, churches are started and encouraged, educational and benevolence institutions are supported, and missions and ministry are accomplished everywhere.
___Now, you are aware that there was much discussion about the decisions made in our convention. Texas Baptists have been accused of not caring for seminary students and of dismantling the Cooperative Program.
___Texas Baptists care about seminary students. Our Texas Preferred giving option will allow churches to help our Texas seminaries, Truett and Logsdon, provide a tuition cost that is comparable to Southwestern and the other five SBC seminaries. There still would be almost $800,000 going to Southwestern if all our churches use the Texas Preferred plan. This giving plan also makes it possible for us to help the Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio move to an accredited status and continue to improve its ability to train Hispanic students for ministry and missions in Texas and around the world. It would be impossible to overstate the importance of this part of the seminary funding proposal.
___Texas Baptists have not dismantled the Cooperative Program. Texas Baptists have worked hard for several years to plead that cooperation cannot be coerced. It must be voluntary. That is why the Texas Cooperative Program allows churches to make their own decisions.
___I urge you to prayerfully examine the matter in your congregation. I encourage you to take seriously the reasons why our leaders recommend the Texas Preferred Plan.
___Consider why messengers to the convention, by a 3-to-1 vote, chose to recommend a budget plan that allows churches to support our Texas students who are preparing for ministry and provide for the special needs we have in our childcare, Hispanic missions and family ministries.
___I believe Texas Baptist people, when they have the facts, will make the right decisions. I believe you will conclude that the Texas Preferred Cooperative Program plan enables our churches to continue doing what they always have done--start churches that will reach out to the world, train ministers who will go into all the world and evangelize the mission field that begins in Texas and extends to the ends of the earth.
___We are loved.
___
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