Alternative convention wants ties to BGCT agencies
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___A group of Texas Baptists who parted company with the Baptist General Convention of Texas over theological and political differences now is seeking to establish "formal fraternal relationships" with most all the agencies and institutions of the BGCT.
___Jim Richards, executive director of the new Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, has written the presidents of BGCT-affiliated schools, child-care agencies and Texas Baptist Men, inviting them to a March 7 meeting to discuss the proposal.
___"By networking, the SBTC avoids a bureaucracy," Richards wrote in the letter. "The SBTC does not wish to create new schools and ministries when it is possible to partner with Baptist entities of like faith and practice."
___He then explains that the conservative convention "would like to explore the possibility of a partnership with you." According to the convention's business and financial plan, such partnerships would be called "formal fraternal relationships," he writes.
___Exactly what constitutes a "formal fraternal relationship" has not been stated. SBTC requires its member churches, however, to subscribe to a conservative doctrinal statement.
___In a Feb. 7 interview, Richards distinguished between the former fraternal relationship and an "affiliate" status for Baptist institutions. Institutions that are willing to sign on to SBTC's doctrinal statement may become "affiliated institutions," he said, and possibly receive convention funding.
___But institutions identified as "formal fraternal partners" will not be required to commit to the doctrinal statement and will qualify only for pass-through funding, meaning designated gifts from churches sent through SBTC.
___After this year, SBTC will no longer accept pass-through funding for any entity with which it does not have a formal fraternal relationship or affiliate relationship, Richards said.
___The effort by SBTC to create formal relationships with BGCT agencies and institutions drew a sharp response from Keith Bruce, coordinatoar of institutional ministries for the BGCT.
___"It is somewhat perplexing at the very least that this group would criticize who we are in the Baptist General Convention of Texas and yet want to have a formal relationship with our ministry institutions that are so much who we are," Bruce said. "There's almost an audacity to it.
___"It's disappointing because our institutions have tried to minister to all Texas Baptists and continue to do so. It's disappointing that any effort would be made that would force them to get involved in denominational politics. Most of the schools and colleges just want to stay out of it."
___Bruce said this does not change the fact that BGCT-related institutions are open to serve all people. "At this point, students from all Texas Baptist churches are receiving ministerial scholarships. There has been no distinction drawn."
___Privately, presidents of the BGCT institutions have expressed consternation at the pressure they feel SBTC has applied to them through the request to establish formal relationships. Publicly, most of the institutional leaders are speaking cautiously if at all.
___A survey of BGCT institutions by the Baptist Standard found none that have yet committed to attend the meeting.
___Most of the agency heads who were willing to speak about the matter emphasized their relationships to local churches.
___"Historically, we have been so church-related, that that's where we want to stay," said Jerry Bradley, president of Texas Baptist Children's Home in Round Rock. "We have some churches in the area that have chosen to go to SBTC. We are maintaining a relationship with those churches. We're just going to stand firm in our relationship to churches. Our roots have been in the BGCT, and there's no reason to change from that."
___Likewise, Ken Hall, president of Buckner Benevolences, emphasized his agency's mission to minister to those in need.
___"We will work with any individual, church or group, regardless of denominational politics, that is seeking to minister to the hurting as Jesus did," Hall said. "If a church aligned with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is seeking to minister in the name of Jesus as Buckner does, we would be more than happy to work with that church, and we welcome its financial support."
___However, Hall also noted that for more than 85 years, Buckner has been affiliated with only one convention, the BGCT. "That is a relationship that has been beneficial to our ministries as we seek to be the hands of Christ to hurting people."
___But in reality, "Buckner is an extension of the local church," he said.
___Albert Reyes, president of Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio, also affirmed his institution's willingness to serve all Texas Baptist churches. But he made it clear the school does not intend to dilute its relationship to the BGCT.
___"We strongly support the direction of the BGCT as we attempt to impact Texas with the gospel of Jesus Christ," he wrote in a reply to Richards.
___Texas Baptist Men Executive Director Jim Furgerson said his group also intends to remain with the BGCT.
___"I can see no reason why (we) would do anything to damage a relationship that has served us all well for more than three decades," he said. "I would not anticipate Texas Baptist Men establishing any fraternal or formal relationship with any other organization.
___"We are very grateful to the BGCT for allowing us the freedom to serve all men and give them a place of ministry," he added.
___Baylor University President Robert Sloan sent Richards a firm response that Baylor's "historic connection with the BGCT is the strongest partnership relationship for us as a Baptist institution."
___"We are deeply committed to the work of the BGCT and thus neither seek nor desire relationships with other Baptist entities within Texas which would either compete for or dilute the resources and efforts of the BGCT," Sloan stated.
___He also admonished SBTC to "reconsider its efforts and to work with the BGCT in commitment to Christ as revealed in the Holy Scriptures."
___SBTC was formed in 1998 by a small group of Texas Baptist pastors and laymen who were distressed that the BGCT was not following the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention's new conservative leadership.
___Since that time, the new convention has grown to more than 600 churches, including many that also have retained a relationship with the BGCT. Some churches have left the BGCT to become uniquely aligned with the new convention.
___Richards said Texas Baptists should not see anything sinister in his request to meet with representatives of the BGCT institutions. "We've just simply invited the representatives to come sit down and dialogue with us and see if there is common ground," he explained.
___"Many of the churches that are affiliated with the SBTC have contributed through the years" to BGCT institutions and "would like to continue a relationship through a state convention with these entities," Richards said.
___He rebuffed criticism that SBTC is attempting to "steal" BGCT ministries by explaining, "We're not asking for governance. We're asking for the possibility of partnering with other Great Commission entities."
The Baptist Standard
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