September 18, 2000

Report affirms existing associations
while allowing new types as well
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas should recognize non-geographic associations but continue to affirm geographic associations as "the preferred method of organizing on a local level," according to a committee charged with studying the issue.
___The committee, created to examine the "basis of associational formation" within the BGCT, presented its report to the convention's Administrative Committee Sept. 7. The report eventually will be considered by messengers to the BGCT annual session in Corpus

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Christi.
___Baptist associations typically are comprised of churches in a relatively small geographic area--such as a county or region--that relate together for fellowship and support as well as to cooperate in starting churches and conducting ministries.
___However, some groups of Texas Baptists--such as Hispanic Baptist churches from several geographic associations in North Texas and Texas churches that wish to create an association with churches from out of state--recently have inquired about the state convention's possible relationships to associations whose memberships are based on criteria other than geography.
___The study committee, which has met four times this year, consulted three groups that particularly would be impacted by the convention's decisions regarding how associations can be structured, noted committee Chairman Mark Newton, pastor of Baptist Temple in San Antonio.
___Those groups were directors of associational missions from across the state; leaders of Norte Central Texas Baptist Association, the new association comprised of Hispanic churches from several traditional associations throughout North Texas; and representatives from the proposed Baptist Association of the Southwest, who have expressed hope to join churches from Texas, Oklahoma and possibly New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana in an association affiliated with the BGCT.
___The committee also extensively studied the theological and historical basis for creation of Baptist associations, Newton reported.
___Consequently, the 14-member committee voted overwhelmingly "that we need to do some things differently," Newton said.
___"The committee ... affirms the right of any group of Baptist churches to form an association, whether it be based upon geography, affinity groupings, ethnicity, etc.," notes the committee's report, which Newton presented to the Administrative Committee.
___The relationship between the state convention and its affiliated associations involves financial considerations, since associations have access to the convention's Cooperative Program unified budget, as well as the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions, which is collected and disbursed by the convention.
___"Any change in the relationship of the BGCT to non-traditional associations will affect directly the financial support from the BGCT to all associations, and therefore must be carefully considered," the report advised.
___The committee's report suggests five points to be considered by the convention:
___ It affirms the BGCT's "historic position" of relating to geographic associations.
___"This has proven to be an effective and efficient way of partnering with associations of churches to win the state of Texas to Christ," the report notes. "It encourages unity among the churches, and it allows for the development of a strategy to reach every person in a particular geographic area."
___ "The committee encourages geographic associations and local churches to work together to meet the needs of the region and local congregations," the report says.
___However, it adds, "a church which positively supports the ministry, missions and budget of the BGCT but believes that the geographic association in which it is located is unable to meet its needs is free to apply directly to the (BGCT) State Missions Commission for financial assistance and church services."
___This point answers the questions of churches that are loyal to the BGCT but feel they cannot work with their own geographic associations, Newton said.
___That's what churches interested in forming the Baptist Association of the Southwest "wanted and needed to hear"--that they could work directly with the BGCT to start churches and conduct ministries, even when their geographic associations might not be inclined to help, he explained.
___ "Churches outside the state of Texas who wish to be more closely related to the BGCT may seek affiliation with an existing association, as has been practiced through the years," the report states.
___Currently, two Arkansas churches are affiliated with the BGCT, and churches in New Mexico and Louisiana previously affiliated with the Texas convention, Newton said.
___Historically, some out-of-state churches on the Texas border have affiliated with Texas associations and thus the BGCT, usually because the hub of associational activity in Texas was geographically closer to them than the association in the state where they existed, added Roger Hall, the BGCT's treasurer and chief financial officer.
___"That practice is almost as old as we are," said Dick Maples, the BGCT's executive associate.
___ Still, the report recommends that the BGCT relate to non-geographic associations.
___Such associations must meet qualifications required of geographic associations in order to receive full financial assistance from the state convention, the report adds. It also suggests churches that comprise the membership of non-geographic associations must align uniquely with such associations and not additionally relate to geographical associations.
___ The BGCT should conduct a two-year pilot project with Norte Central Texas Baptist Association to help "establish guidelines for relating to non-geographic associations," the report suggests.
___"The BGCT is in a time of significant transition," it notes, explaining the pilot-project proposal. "Current ... guidelines were not established to accommodate non-geographic associations. ... Relating to non-geographic associations will impact current funding guidelines. At this time, we cannot anticipate the full implications of this change."
___The committee also asks other churches that currently are considering forming non-geographic associations to wait two years, until the pilot project has been completed.
___"Although the committee recommends the recognition of non-geographic associations," the report concludes, "we believe at this time geographic associations remain the preferred method of organizing on a local level."
___"We have sought unity in the midst of diversity," Newton said of the committee's report. "We want the umbrella of the Baptist General Convention of Texas to reach all our churches and associations. Geographic organization is preferred, but there are times when we need to be open."

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