EDITORIAL:
Ultimately, the BGCT's contribution form is just a form
___Some Texas Baptists will make a major issue over a decision made by the Baptist General Convention of Texas a couple of weeks ago. And they will miss the point of why we worked together for generations.
___Earlier this fall, the BGCT Administrative Committee voted to "simplify" the state convention's gift remittance form. This form is the document church treasurers complete when they mail monthly contributions to the convention for the Cooperative Program unified budget.
___The 2002 form will omit the option box checked most often by Texas Baptist churches, which sends 67 percent of contributions to the BGCT and 33 percent to worldwide causes, primarily the Southern Baptist Convention. The form will feature the main option--the BGCT Adopted Budget. It also will feature a second option (which actually encompasses infinite options)--a set of blank lines on which a church can indicate exactly how it wants its Cooperative Program money divided, including the popular 67/33 allocation.
___Messengers to the BGCT annual session Oct. 29-30 overwhelmingly defeated a motion to restore the 67/33 option as a distinct line on the remittance form.
___Advocates of the new form tout several advantages. First, they say it honors actions of messengers to the 2000 BGCT annual session, who requested a clarified giving form and who rejected, implicitly if not explicitly, the 67/33 option. By implication, they were vindicated by the overwhelming defeat of the 67/33 proposal at this year's session. Second, they state it simplifies the form by paring the options down to their basic choices. Third, they stress it is fair to all churches, because it still gives them opportunity to channel their money exactly as they wish without showing favoritism regarding allocations that go out of state.
___Opponents of the new form cite several disadvantages. They point out it eliminates the option checked most often by churches this year. The omitted option accounts for 45.1 percent of funds given to the 2001 BGCT Cooperative Program. That compares to 22.8 percent given through the Adopted Budget and 32.1 percent given through the open option, which allows churches to specify all the allocations of their funds. Second, they argue the omitted 67/33 option has given churches a way to ignore denominational turmoil by simply checking the "traditional" Cooperative Program formula used by Texas Baptist churches. Third, they claim the change supports the BGCT over against the SBC by making the option that channels the greatest percentage of money to the state convention stand out even more prominently.
___Advocates and opponents alike will miss out if they make the form the focus of their attention in the coming months.
___Ultimately, a form is just a form. What churches decide--and why they decide that way--is the central issue.
___To begin with, churches still can do what they want to do. Freedom is a BGCT hallmark, and the change does not deny freedom--for good or ill. Perhaps more churches will choose the convention's Adopted Budget. Maybe more will spell out the details of their allocations. Either way, they will have the opportunity to indicate exactly how they want their funds to be spent.
___More importantly, BGCT causes--not one remittance form or another--comprise the real issue. Whether the form is as small and simple as a postcard or as thick and complicated as an IRS codebook is not the issue. The causes are the issue. And churches' contributions will determine how well those causes are sustained.
___The BGCT's adversaries have sought to misrepresent a handful of convention positions and demonize its leaders. They will try to spin the change in the remittance form to the BGCT's disadvantage and discourage churches from supporting the BGCT. But a church's decision to decrease its funding of the BGCT will not punish the form, the committee that approved the form or leaders who distribute the form. It will harm the ministries of the BGCT.
___If a church uses a change in the form as an excuse to decrease BGCT funding, it will undermine support for:
___ Starting hundreds of churches yearly.
___ Eight universities and three ministry-training schools, plus two other theological programs, an academy and a missions/education center.
___ Twenty-nine child care facilities.
___ Fourteen retirement and nursing centers.
___ Six medical centers/hospital systems.
___ Mission-education and mission-action organizations.
___ Spirit-enhancing, life-giving ministries, such as River Ministry along the Rio Grande, Texas Partnerships with Christians across the United States and around the globe, disaster relief ministries, ministries to victims of crime and other service to "the least of these" in God's kingdom.
___ Plus a range of programs to strengthen virtually every kind of church-based missions and ministry endeavor.
___The form is just a form. What counts is ministry, doing God's work in the world. BGCT ministries are worthy of Texas Baptists' sacrificial support--whatever kind of form our churches fill out when they send our gifts.
___ —Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook