April 16, 2001

EDITORIAL:
Churches' decisions unfold slowly
___If Baptists vote with their billfolds, then the referendum on the future of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' budget has more hanging dollars than Florida had hanging chads last fall.
___The BGCT's first-quarter budget receipts have been tabulated and disbursed. Income is ahead of the current goal, but it's behind last year's pace. Gifts to worldwide causes are surpassing the budget, but contributions to Texas causes are lagging behind. Critics of budget changes accused the BGCT's three theological schools of robbing the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries, but after a quarter, those three Texas Baptist schools have received $136,767, while the BGCT has provided $979,659 to the six SBC schools.
___On the church front, some traditionally supportive congregations have yet to contribute to the BGCT budget or have contributed only token amounts. This leads budget watchers to conclude those churches are escrowing their gifts until they decide on the exact nature of their relationship to the BGCT and its 2-year-old competitor, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Meanwhile, the new convention claims 700 affiliated churches, with 71 percent of them (almost 500) exclusively aligned with it. But only 93 churches have contacted the BGCT asking to be removed from mailing lists.
___So, the time we spent waiting to see if George W. Bush defeated Al Gore will seem like a second compared to how long the denominational decision will take Texas churches to determine.
___Several interpretations provide explanations for the current state of affairs:
___ Churches are "voting" with their budgets. Never mind that messengers to the BGCT annual session last fall voted overwhelmingly to approve the new budget that places priority on Texas theological education, Hispanic work and Christian ethics. Churches are showing their true colors as they contribute.
___According to this theory, 19.5 percent of churches agree with the changes, 42.4 percent favor the old way of budgeting and relating to the SBC, and 14.9 percent don't like either method and are drafting their own giving formulas. Plus, 23.2 percent have not contributed to the BGCT budget yet this year.
___To be fair, we should note the BGCT expedites the multiplicity of giving options. Churches can contribute exactly as they wish because the BGCT honors their autonomy.
___ Some churches are confused about the changes, and some pastors are keeping their people uninformed. BGCT Executive Board and Baptist Standard staff continue to hear from laypeople. They're saying: (a) please give us accurate information regarding this issue, because we aren't being told the whole story in a balanced way, or (b) our pastor or a small group in the church has made our budget decision without informing the congregation and inviting congregational involvement.
___ Some Texas Baptists are making decisions based on erroneous information. A laywoman reported that the wife of a pastor of a Baptist church in her town said, "If you want to support abortion and homosexuality, then keep on supporting the BGCT." A pastor in another community visited a prospect. When she learned his church is involved in the BGCT, she told him, "I can't be part of a church that supports homosexuality."
___Those assertions couldn't be more untrue. They are scurrilous and defamatory. The BGCT has passed six resolutions decrying elective abortion since 1980. The reasons regretfully allowed are to protect the life of the mother and cases of rape and incest. The BGCT also passed a resolution opposing partial-birth abortion. In addition, the BGCT Administrative Committee and Executive Board both voted to refuse funds from a church that ordained a gay deacon--similar to the action taken by the SBC against churches that support homosexual activity and an action that resulted in the church removing itself from the BGCT completely.
___ These things take time. The proportion of churches utilizing the various giving options has shifted month by month as churches decide how they want their money spent. Some churches are conducting denominational studies. Some have not yet entered the budget process. Some still are deciding how to proceed. We can expect changing alliances throughout this year and at least the next.
___Ultimately, churches should make decisions based on facts. If you or your church need information about financial matters, contact Roger Hall, the convention's chief financial officer, (214) 828-5310. For information about convention facts, contact Dick Maples, the BGCT's executive associate, (214) 828-5320.
___For additional background information, click on the "Baptist Decision 2001" link .
___ Marv Knox
E-mail the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com


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