Texas Baptist Men opens membership to non-BGCT churches
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--Men from Baptist churches in Texas not affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas are now eligible for membership in Texas Baptist Men.
___At its Oct. 29 meeting in Dallas, the board of directors approved amendments to the Texas Baptist Men constitution and bylaws that expand the organization's base of membership and service.
___The board also adopted a resolution stating that "Texas Baptist Men stands ready to assist any Baptist church in Texas to lead men into a love relationship with Jesus Christ which thrusts them and their families into a lifestyle of missions and ministry."
___The amended governing documents open membership to "members of Baptist Men groups in churches affiliated with either a Baptist association in Texas, the Baptist General Convention of Texas or the Southern Baptist Convention." Historically, Texas Baptist Men had been limited to members of churches affiliated with the BGCT.
___ The changes allow men in Texas churches affiliated with missionary Baptist associations or with historically African-American groups such as the National Baptist Convention to be members of Texas Baptist Men. It also opens membership to men in churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, a breakaway convention formed as an alternative to the BGCT.
___At the same time, the board amended the constitution and bylaws to include a statement declaring Texas Baptist Men "an affiliate of the Baptist General Convention of Texas." No state convention other than the BGCT is formally recognized in the Texas Baptist Men governing documents.
___"This doesn't change our relationship with the BGCT," said George Crews of Colleyville, chairman of the policy committee. "We are trying to be all-inclusive so
we can minister to every man and boy in Texas."
___The board also approved a bylaw amendment adding the chief financial officer of the BGCT as an ex-officio member of the Texas Baptist Men board.
___Since 1967, Texas Baptist Men has been a self-governing affiliate of the BGCT. The missions organization elects its own officers and has its own governing board, but it is dependent financially upon the BGCT Cooperative Program unified budget.
___The 2002 Texas Baptist Men Cooperative Program budget is $626,888. The organization also anticipates $150,000 in BGCT endowment funds in 2002, bringing the total expected income from BGCT sources to $776,888.
___But the total Texas Baptist Men operating budget for 2002 is $938,204. That means the organization needs to meet a challenge budget of $161,316 from non-BGCT sources in order to fully fund all ministries.
___About a year ago, officials with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention invited Texas Baptist Men--along with other BGCT-affiliated educational and benevolent institutions--to establish a formal "fraternal relationship" with the breakway convention. Representatives of that convention stated that after Jan. 1, 2002, they would no longer forward financial gifts from churches or individuals to entities lacking a fraternal relationship or affiliation.
___While Texas Baptist Men will welcome support from non-BGCT churches and from laymen in those churches, Executive Director-Treasurer Jim Furgerson has said the organization will not seek a formal financial relationship or affiliation with any organization other than the BGCT.
___Bob Dixon of Dallas, who completed his final term as Texas Baptist Men president, delivered a "state of Texas Baptist Men" address calling on men to discern the "signs of the times" pointing to the Second Coming of Christ.
___Citing the words of Jesus in the 24th chapter of Matthew's Gospel, Dixon noted what seems to be an increasing prevalence of natural disasters, armed conflict and false teaching.
___Dixon challenged Texas Baptist Men always to remember that as they offer assistance for physical needs with one hand, they must "carry the power of regeneration" in the other hand. Warning against "the ungodly who will slip into your midst," Dixon urged the men to be "fixed stars" by whom others can chart their course.
___The board also heard reports on Texas Baptist Men ministries noting:
___ Texas disaster relief volunteers prepared 370,000 meals for displaced Houston-area residents earlier this year when floods hit the southeast Texas city.
___ Victim Relief Ministry served 450 families in Dallas County who were impacted by crime. The pilot program will offer victim chaplain training in 10 cities and will offer training for an anticipated 1,500 church representatives in the metropolitan New York City area.
___ Texas Baptists have been represented among the Southern Baptists from 15 states who have prepared more than 450,000 meals in New York City for rescue and recovery workers since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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