April 30, 2001

Answers to commonly-asked questions about the BGCT
___Here are some of the most common accusations being made against the Baptist General Convention of Texas by critics who are attempting to sway churches to join the alternative state convention:
___ Link between the BGCT and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The accusation is

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made that the leadership of the BGCT and CBF are the same and that the BGCT is funding CBF.
___Truth: The BGCT and CBF are entirely separate entities. Some Texas Baptists who support the BGCT also support the CBF, but many whosupport the BGCT do not support the CBF. The BGCT has no budget line item for CBF funding, unlike some other state conventions that do. The only funds going to the CBF through the BGCT are church-directed pass-through funds. The Texas World Hunger Offering, which is considered designated giving, funds some hunger-relief projects through CBF as well as others through Southern Baptist Convention missionaries.
___ Separation from the SBC. The accusation is made that the BGCT has ended its relationship with the SBC or is moving toward breaking this relationship.
___Truth: While messengers to BGCT annual sessions have not agreed with every action taken by messengers to SBC annual sessions in recent years, the BGCT remains in partnership with the SBC. The BGCT still is the largest single channel of funding for SBC ministries. BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade has said publicly that he does not favor any formal severing of ties with the SBC.
___ Virgin birth of Christ. The accusation is made that the BGCT, its leaders or representatives of its institutions do not believe Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.
___Truth: The BGCT in annual session has reaffirmed its support for the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message, which includes an affirmation of the virgin birth. No other convention action has been taken to reverse this position. Further, no faculty member at any BGCT-affiliated school has been identified as denying the virgin birth.
___ Funding of Southern Baptist Convention seminaries. The accusation is made that churches giving through the BGCT Cooperative Program no longer can fund the six SBC seminaries.
___Truth: The BGCT allows churches complete flexibility in funding choices, including the ability to fund the six SBC seminaries if desired. The BGCT gives churches more funding choices than either SBTC or the SBC allow.
___ Homosexuality. The accusation is made that the BGCT supports or endorses homosexuality.
___Truth: In 1982, messengers to the BGCT annual session expressed the conviction that "the homosexual lifestyle is not normal or acceptable in God's sight and is indeed called sin." That position has not been amended. Then in 1998, the BGCT refused contributions from University Baptist Church of Austin because the church ordained a homosexual man.
___ Abortion. The accusation is made that the BGCT supports abortion, funds abortion or promotes abortion.
___Truth: Seven times since 1980, the BGCT in annual session has passed motions or resolutions opposing abortion. No evidence has been found of the BGCT supporting, endorsing, promoting or funding abortion.
___ Women pastors. The accusation is made that the BGCT is pushing for women to become pastors of local churches.
___Truth: BGCT leaders repeatedly have said the calling of a pastor is a local-church matter over which the state convention should have no jurisdiction. As one BGCT employee explained, "If we're trying to promote women pastors, we're doing a poor job of it." Only three BGCT-affiliated churches are known to have females as pastors.

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