March 1, 2000
Texas Baptist Men headed toward incorporation
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DENTON--The Texas Baptist Men executive board at its February meeting took the first steps toward establishing the missions organization as a non-profit corporation to enhance its ability to minister nationally and internationally.
___The board, meeting at North Texas Baptist Conference Center near Denton, unanimously approved articles of incorporation for Texas Baptist Men Inc., a non-profit corporation "organized exclusively for charitable, religious and educational purposes."
___Jerry Bob Taylor of Brownwood, chairman of the policy committee, explained that establishing a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation is the first step toward becoming a recognized non-governmental organization.
___"Since so many of the disaster response agencies require the responding groups to be officially approved non-governmental organizations, this incorporating of TBM is a necessary procedure," according to a letter from the organization's policy committee, which made the recommendation.
___In addition to Taylor, other members of the policy committee are B.B. Westbrook of Beaumont, John LaNoue of Tyler, Andy Andreason and Bob Sloan of McGregor, Dick Moody of Ennis, Cotton Bridges of Plano, James Corliss of San Antonio and Larry Sinclair of Rusk. Texas Baptist Men President Bob Dixon and Executive Director Jim Furgerson serve as ex-officio members.
___Texas Baptist Men will seek recognition as a non-governmental organization, or NGO, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the United Nations so that it can carry out national and international relief ministries "in Jesus' name" rather than under the sponsorship of a non-religious entity.
___"Many times the invitation of God has come from aid organizations, governments, UN, other faith-based groups and from other organizations," the letter from the policy committee stated.
___For instance, Texas Baptist Men offered disaster relief following the earthquake in Turkey last year working under the auspices of an oil company and a car manufacturer.
___"By incorporating, this provides us the leeway to work in disaster relief as an NGO, opening up whole new fields for ministry," Taylor told the board.
___"It will enable Texas Baptist Men to meet human needs and offer a cup of water in Jesus' name," said Furgerson, whom the board unanimously named as executive director-treasurer of the corporation.
___Establishing Texas Baptist Men as a non-profit corporation separate from the Baptist General Convention of Texas does not change the group's "organizational, theological, fraternal or cooperative relationship" with the state convention, Taylor emphasized. "We want a good, harmonious working relationship with the BGCT."
___Texas Baptist Men will continue to be directed by its own elected board, as it has for more than 30 years. The organization will continue as an affiliate to the BGCT, and its president will continue to serve on the BGCT Executive Board. Texas Baptist Men will follow the same guidelines as the BGCT regarding personnel policies, salaries and benefits, vacations and workdays.
___Woman's Missionary Union of Texas also is a non-profit corporation. The operating budget for Texas WMU comes from the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions, which Texas WMU founded and promotes.
___Texas Baptist Men anticipates continuing to receive funding through the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program unified budget.
___According to the articles of incorporation, membership in Texas Baptist Men is comprised of "members of Baptist men's groups in Baptist churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas."
___In addition to approving the articles of incorporation, board members also received a preliminary copy of proposed bylaws for the corporation, which will replace the organization's constitution.
___Dixon asked executive board members to read the proposed bylaws and make any suggestions by April 1. He announced that a vote on bylaws for the corporation will be the sole business item at a called board meeting May 6.
___The called meeting will be held in conjunction with the "Gathering of the Father's Family," an event marking the dedication of the new Texas Baptist Men missions equipping center in east Dallas.
___Adoption of bylaws would require approval at two consecutive board meetings. The document could receive final approval at the Texas Baptist Men Convention Oct. 31 in Corpus Christi.
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