June 12, 2000
EDITORIAL:
Seek strong institutional relations
___Letters like this have been arriving: "What's the difference between Houston Baptist University's recent vote to create a self-perpetuating board of trustees and Baylor University's action in 1990? And why are people who supported Baylor's move opposed to what HBU has done?"
___Actions taken by HBU trustees May 16 and by Baylor trustees almost a decade earlier are similar in impact and dissimilar in intent.
___HBU trustees voted to end the Baptist General Convention of Texas' role in appointing the entire trustee board. They offered to allow the BGCT to appoint 25 percent of the board, retaining the right to name the remaining 75 percent themselves. Ten years ago, Baylor trustees created a board of regents to govern the school, with 25 percent selected by the BGCT and 75 percent selected by the regents themselves.
___However, motivations behind the actions are quite different. Baylor officials cited fear that the university could be "taken over" by "fundamentalists" if the political/theological movement that had just gained control of the Southern Baptist Convention should prove successful in Texas. HBU, on the other hand, expressed concern about retaining trustees whose churches, while loyal to the SBC, do not support the BGCT.
___Similarities and dissimilarities aside--and despite perceptions to the contrary--the BGCT has responded to both situations identically.
___Initial comments by current convention leaders were so similar to statements made in 1990 that observers noted today's leaders words closely mirrored those of their predecessors. More importantly, the BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board and Executive Board took identical actions toward HBU and Baylor: They escrowed all convention funds going to the schools, except for ministerial scholarships and scholarships to help faculty earn doctor's degrees. And they created committees to explore the situations and seek resolution.
___So, insinuations that the BGCT favored the moderate Baylor action and punished the conservative HBU initiative are groundless. The universities have been treated the same.
___This latest crisis should prompt us to take a serious look at the convention's relationships with all its affiliated institutions. Some fear the Baylor/HBU actions may signal a trend toward disaffiliation, which could erode the cooperative and far-reaching nature of Texas Baptist ministry. We need to work on preserving and even reinvigorating relationships.
___Although it sounds paradoxical, the ideal is to provide the institutions with maximum freedom and the convention with meaningful connection, explains Keith Bruce, director of the BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board and interim director of the Human Welfare Coordinating Board. "We can achieve win/win situations," he insists.
___Bruce points to the repercussions from the Baylor situation. Although the BGCT only elects a quarter of Baylor regents, provisions ensure that all regents are Baptists, and the vast majority are cooperating Texas Baptists. Moreover, the legal ties between Baylor and the BGCT are stronger than before. Previously, they related under their own constitutions and charters, which contradicted at some points, resulting in several gray areas of understanding. Now, however, the relationship between Baylor and the convention is clearly defined in an agreement adopted by both entities, which to be amended would require approval by both.
___More importantly, the process has drawn the convention and university closer in spirit, Bruce stresses, noting Baylor's relationship may be the BGCT's closest today. "We want the basis of relationship to be common purpose, not control," he explains. That means not only negotiating with the institutions and electing their trustees, but also dreaming with them. Both the convention and all the institutions can and will be stronger as the convention--representing Texas Baptists--both contributes to and shares in the institutions' dreams and visions for ministry.
___The BGCT affiliates with 11 schools, four child care agencies, five retirement and nursing care agencies, and six health systems. "We should have been looking at the trustee process eight to 10 years ago," Bruce asserts. That's an excellent idea.
___Study committees are legion among the BGCT these days, but we need to make room for one more. A special committee--perhaps comprised of members from the Christian education, human welfare and executive boards-- should study the relationship of the BGCT to all its affiliated institutions. The study should be done now, proactively, before another challenge dominates the convention landscape.
___For the sake of our institutions and the convention, and more importantly for the sake of the cause of Christ in Texas, we need to maximize win/win relationships that will strengthen our ministries across the state.
___ Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
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