May 28, 2001

Interim report given on HBU talks
___DALLAS--Negotiations between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Houston Baptist University have not produced any change in the unilateral decision of HBU's trustees to create a self-perpetuating board.
___John Uxer of El Paso, chairman of the BGCT committee appointed to negotiate with HBU trustees after their vote May 16, 2000, to amend their bylaws without consent of the BGCT, brought an interim report to the BGCT Executive Board May 22.
___Although both sides have pledged confidentiality for the discussions that have been undertaken over the last year, Uxer said he could report that HBU trustees have "agreed to some significant but secondary issues and concerns."
___"However, the HBU trustee negotiating committee, representing the entire HBU board of trustees, has refused to alter substantially the original position in regard to trustee selection," he said. "This refusal to alter meaningfully the original position has come despite new and creative proposals presented by the BGCT negotiating subcommittee."
___The BGCT committee has come to the conclusion "with regret" that HBU trustees do not intend to retreat from their decision to remove the BGCT from its role of naming university trustees. The university's unilateral decision to grant the BGCT the right to name 25 percent of the trustee board will stand, Uxer reported.
___Nevertheless, it is in the best interest of both the university and the BGCT to continue in some kind of relationship, he said. Based on this belief, the BGCT committee and HBU committee will draft a covenant contract that will define this new relationship.
___Among issues still to be determined is the disposition of BGCT funding previously given annually to HBU. Since the trustee board's action, the BGCT has escrowed all gifts to HBU.
___The BGCT committee hopes to present a final report on its work in September, Uxer said.

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