May 28, 2001

Missions study gets favorable reception
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___DALLAS--The report of a Texas committee studying missions-sending agencies received enthusiastic support from the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board May 22.
___The largest number of questions asked of Jim Denison, chairman of the Missions-sending Agencies Study Committee, related to the committee's recommendation that it be disbanded after approval of the report by messengers to next fall's BGCT annual session. Several speakers expressed the opinion that the study committee ought to remain in place to do additional work.
___The Executive Board affirmed the study committee's 21-page report, which notes six concerns about the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board and six concerns about the SBC's North American Mission Board.
___The report does not call for any change in relationship to or funding of the IMB. However, it calls for intensive negotiations with NAMB about mission work in Texas and for keeping in Texas about $1.28 million that the BGCT sends to NAMB but that NAMB eventually sends back to Texas ministries.
___During extended discussion of the committee's report, no one spoke against the committee's recommendations. Instead, speakers repeatedly lavished praise on the committee.
___Denison highlighted several areas of the report and emphasized that early responses from some SBC leaders about the report are inaccurate.
___For example, a recent Baptist Press article quoted David Hankins, a vice president of the SBC Executive Committee, saying the BGCT recommendation would take $600,000 away from the IMB.
___"Let me categorically assure you this is not true," Denison said, noting that Hankins "did not speak to any individual who had knowledge of this recommendation or process."
___The committee's recommendation "would in no way affect the BGCT's support of the IMB," he added.
___The NAMB funding change recommended by the study committee is not based on theology or politics, Denison said. Rather, it is simply a means of reducing red tape and improving efficiency.
___Denison said the BGCT is not alone in expressing concerns about the effectiveness and efficiency of NAMB, which was created from a merger of three SBC agencies in 1997. "There are concerns voiced by a number of state conventions related to the operation of NAMB--concerns that are not political or theological ... but about efficiency."
___However, further negotiations with NAMB are imperative, Denison continued, because of some potential problems that do touch on theology and politics.
___As an example, he cited NAMB's revised policy on endorsing chaplains. Many military, hospital and prison chaplains are required to show endorsement from their denomination as a condition of employment.
___While NAMB gives extra scrutiny to any missionary candidate who will not wholeheartedly affirm the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith & Message adopted by the SBC, chaplains are required to endorse the revised faith statement, Denison reported.
___This is significant because Texas Baptists have not embraced the SBC's revisions in the document.
___"If you are a chaplain and will not sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, you cannot be endorsed," Denison reported. This applies not only to new chaplains seeking endorsement but also to chaplains needing recertification.
___"This is a significant matter," he warned.
___Also, the committee believes NAMB has violated a 1991 cooperative agreement between the BGCT and the SBC Home Mission Board, a predecessor to NAMB.
___That document states that "new projects may be initiated, administered and promoted in the state by the Home Mission Board after consultation with and affirmation of the Baptist General Convention of Texas." NAMB has violated this provision by funding staff members and mission projects of the competing Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Denison said.
___In response to a question about how the committee intends to gets its report read and understood by the vast majority of Texas Baptists, Denison urged Executive Board members to speak truth about the report and encourage attention to it.
___Among many churches and pastors, "there exists an intentional ignorance, a desire not to know, ... or not to communicate to their members," he lamented.
___The study committee's full report is available at the Baptist Standard's website, www.baptiststandard.com.
___In other business, Executive Board members:
___ Approved a recommendation from the BGCT Administrative Committee that the convention not create a "mediation task force" to resolve disputes between the BGCT and SBC as recommended by BGCT messenger Dave McFadden last October. The recommendation stated the BGCT remains "open to leaders in Southern Baptist life who will agree to discuss matters of mutual interest with BGCT leaders."
___ Endorsed a recommendation from the Administrative Committee that Texas Baptists be encouraged to participate in a day of prayer and fasting for restoration of unity between the BGCT and SBC. However, the Administrative Committee and Executive Board both declined to fund a three-day meeting for prayer and fasting as suggested by BGCT messenger James Heffington.
___ Approved a recommendation of the Administrative Committee to begin a pilot program of assisting BGCT-affiliated pastors to receive the same matching annuity contributions whether their churches affiliate with the SBC or not. Also approved was a recommendation to begin a pilot program of assisting BGCT-affiliated pastors in making medical insurance premium payment during times of hardship.
___ Affirmed the work of the BGCT's strategic planning committee. A report on the recommendations of that committee was carried in the May 14 issue of the Baptist Standard.
___ Heard greetings from Arlington pastor Dan Curry, who was injured this spring in an automobile accident in the Republic of Georgia. Curry thanked Texas Baptists for their prayers and urged continued support of partnership missions efforts.

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