Texas Baptists affirm change in funding SBC
___By Mark Wingfield & Marv Knox
___Managing Editor & Editor
___CORPUS CHRISTI--By an estimated 3-to-1 margin or greater, Texas Baptists approved the recommendations of the Seminary Study Committee Oct. 30 that will reduce funding for the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries beginning in January.
___In a separate decision the same afternoon, Texas Baptists voted to completely defund the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and defund all but $10,000 going annually to the SBC Executive Committee--a combined reallocation of more than $1 million.
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Constitutional amendment passes, allows out-of-state representation
___By Mark Wingfield& Ferrell Foster
___CORPUS CHRISTI--Members of churches outside Texas that affiliate with the Baptist General Convention of Texas now will be allowed to serve on convention committees and boards.
___The change was approved by messengers to the BGCT annual session in Corpus Christi Oct. 30. With only scattered opposition, messengers gave the required second affirmation to a constitutional amendment that removes geographical limitations on nominees for convention committees and boards.
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Texas WMU passes the mantle this year–twice
___By Jerilynn Armstrong
___For Texas Baptist Communications
___CORPUS CHRISTI--During the Oct. 30 meeting of Texas WMU's executive board, the group voted unanimously on the selection of Carolyn Porterfield as executive director-treasurer. She will follow Joy Fenner's 20-year tenure, which began in 1981 and will end March 1 with her retirement. The WMU board also voted to name Fenner executive director-treasurer emeritus.
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Wade calls Texas Baptists to resist creeds imposed by SBC
___By Scott Collins & Mark Wingfield
___CORPUS CHRISTI--The crisis that prompted Texas Baptists to eliminate more than $5 million in funding for the Southern Baptist Convention was caused by "rigid limitations" imposed by SBC leaders, Charles Wade told messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session Oct. 30.
___In his first convention report as BGCT executive director, Wade addressed head-on what he labeled "a controversy that threatens the Baptist vision."
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Standard readers make a difference on global debt relief legislation
___By Kenny Byrd
___Associated Baptist Press
___WASHINGTON (ABP)--Most people doubt that letters, phone calls and visits from a handful of constituents can tip the scales in a bid to get congressional support for legislation. But that is just what happened, observers say, when Congress passed a foreign-operations spending bill that includes $435 million toward debt relief for the world's poorest nations.
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