November 5, 2001

Messengers approve reduced budget with strong vote
___By Dan Martin
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--By an overwhelming margin, messengers to the annual session of the Baptist General Convention of Texas adopted a $47.5 million budget for 2002, representing an 8.8 percent decrease.
___Stephen Hatfield, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lewisville and chairman of the BGCT Administrative Committee, detailed three reasons for the decreased budget--a restructuring of the Executive Board staff, t

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he nation's troubled economy and the reality that "some churches have left us" because of decisions made at past conventions.
___"The restructuring reflects greater efficiency," he said. His remarks were amplified by a report by Chris Liebrum, BGCT director of human resources, who said the restructuring has resulted in a savings of $1 million in staff costs.
___The budget reflects the new structure of the Executive Board staff, Hatfield said. Major categories represented in the budget include:
___ Church missions and evangelism, $4.96 million or 10.43 percent of the budget.
___ Church health and growth, $4.55 million or 9.59 percent of the budget.
___ Associational missions and administration, $1.8 million or 3.78 percent.
___ Christian ethics and public life, $723,386 or 1.52 percent.
___ Institutional ministries, including educational and human welfare ministries, $25.21 million or 53.07 percent.
___Other allocations include $3.99 million to the office of financial management, $1.64 million to the executive director's office and communications center, $776,888 to Texas Baptist Men and $3.86 million to other missions and ministries.
___Only one question was asked regarding the budget.
___Bill Ballou, a staff member at First Baptist Church of Abilene, asked for clarification about a line item regarding the "Theological Education System" listed under the Institutional Ministries Section of the budget.
___The item calls for expenditure of $2.65 million, and Ballou wanted to know how much of those funds will go to Logsdon School of Theology at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.
___Treasurer Roger Hall reported that funds under the line item are used for ministerial education at the eight universities affiliated with the BGCT, and he said $283,500 goes to Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University and $73,800 goes to Logsdon.

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