November 5, 2001
Relationship changes OK'd with HBU, Buckner, others
___By Ferrell Foster
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--Texas Baptists approved changes in their relationships with two affiliated institutions Oct. 29 and cleared the way for another one to unite with a non-Baptist organization.
___Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session approved separate "special agreements" with Houston Baptist University and Buckner Baptist Benevolences. No one spoke against either agreement, and each received only scattered opposition.
KEITH BRUCE
___Messengers also gave the BGCT Human Welfare Coordinating Board authority to approve a possible association of Baptist Health System in San Antonio with Christus Santa Rosa Health Care Corp.
___Defining a new relationship with HBU was necessary because the university's trustees acted unilaterally last year to declare themselves a largely self-perpetuating board. By their action, the BGCT would be allowed to name only 25 percent of the HBU board rather than 100 percent as in the past.
___John Uxer, chairman of the BGCT committee that negotiated with HBU trustees, noted that the proposed agreement came after lengthy negotiations.
___The special agreement ratifies the new trustee election ratio, which Uxer said was a non-
___Buckner's special agreement came about after the Dallas-based institution approached the BGCT about making changes in its trustee election process. The BGCT will now elect one-third of Buckner trustees, and Buckner will elect two-thirds.
___Bob Hart, chairman of the Human Welfare Coordinating Board, said the change will allow Buckner's board to become more diverse.
___BGCT officials previously had described the Buckner agreement as a proactive measure and a model for future negotiations with other institutions.
___Regarding Baptist Health System, "economic and market conditions" have made it difficult for the institution to survive financially, Hart said. Although the health-care system has "acted responsibly," it is unlikely to be able to survive alone, he added.
___Negotiations between Christus and Baptist Health System are continuing.
___During discussion, Bill Fowler of First Baptist Church in Pleasantown said the number of chaplains at the San Antonio hospital has been reduced 40 percent since the financial problems emerged. He asked if a new partnership would "put us in a position to recover and restore" chaplain ministries.
___Keith Bruce, coordinator of the BGCT's institutional ministries section, responded that "there is a very strong commitment to pastoral care" among those negotiating a possible association between the two hospitals. "I believe it is going to be a very high priority."
___Messengers also approved a name change for Texas Baptist Children's Home, adding the words "and Family Services." The change was part of a corporate restructuring.
___After the votes, Bruce told messengers that BGCT institutions are facing new challenges and opportunities in this new century. The BGCT is "undertaking a prayerful evaluation" of how it relates to affiliated entities in order that they can "continue to relate meaningfully" while allowing for "governance flexibility," he said.
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