November 11, 2002
Campbell says BGCT actions were an olive branch to the SBC
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___WACO—Texas Baptists handed an olive branch to the Southern Baptist Convention in adopting budget changes and creating a world missions network, according to Bob Campbell, re-elected to his second term as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___ In a news conference shortly after his re-election at the BGCT annual session Nov. 11, Campbell said even though SBC leaders have found fault with the missions network and budget recommendations adopted by BGCT messengers, they should see the actions as signs of peace.
___ "We’re saying we want to work with you, we will work with you," said Campbell, pastor of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston.
___ This year’s budget changes remove a funding cap on gifts to the six SBC seminaries and reverse defunding of the SBC’s Ethics & Christian Life Commission. At the same time, the new budget suggests that Texas Baptist churches divide their undesignated Cooperative Program gifts 79 percent to the BGCT and 21 percent to the worldwide cause of the church’s choice, which could be the SBC, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Baptist World Alliance or BGCT-directed causes.
___ Two years ago, Campbell chaired the BGCT Seminary Study Committee that recommended limiting funding for the six SBC seminaries. The committee concluded the SBC schools no longer teach historic Baptist theology and now require faculty members to sign a non-Baptist creed in order to be hired.
___ Although this year’s budget plan appears to be a reversal of that decision, Campbell said he does not regret the funding changes adopted in 2000. "I’m glad we did what we did when we did it," he said.
___ However, he acknowledged that "apparently the churches were very confused by it." Over the past two years, churches were slow to embrace the BGCT Adopted Budget that included the seminary funding cap. Many churches instead created their own customized giving plans, as the BGCT allows. About one-third of BGCT churches continued to give the way they had before, sending full funding to the SBC seminaries.
___ This year’s changes, although reducing the recommended percentage of funds forwarded to the SBC or other worldwide missions agencies, should be seen as "a more positive step" aimed at depoliticizing the choices Texas Baptist churches face, he said.
___ Campbell encouraged pastors to lead their churches to allow members to determine where their missions money should go rather than avoiding discussion on the topic. "I challenge pastors to let their people choose," he said.
___ The BGCT "can’t control pastors," he acknowledged. "But we can give them models.
___"At our church, we let people choose," Campbell said, explaining that in the coming year about 30 percent of his church’s missions giving beyond the Texas Cooperative Program will go to the SBC, 23 percent to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and 45 percent to BGCT world missions.
___The world missions network created by the BGCT should not be seen as a competitor to the SBC’s International Mission Board or North American Mission Board, Campbell said. Rather, it should be seen as demonstrating that the BGCT wants to help churches network with a wide range of missions entities, including the IMB and NAMB.
___ The BGCT’s position is more inclusive than the SBC itself allows, Campbell reported. "Some denominational leaders today are not willing to work with other evangelical or even Baptist groups."
___ Asked by a reporter why SBC leaders have been critical of the BGCT’s world missions network, Campbell said: "You’ll have to ask them. I don’t know why they would be critical of spreading the gospel of Christ."
___ Criticism that the BGCT’s world missions network is a step toward creating a new national convention based in Texas is irrelevant, Campbell suggested, noting the BGCT for many years has been engaged in direct national and international missions work through partnership missions. Further, many other state Baptist conventions are doing the same thing, he added.
___ On another front, Campbell told reporters he thinks the BGCT ought to restore full funding to Baylor University. In 1991, the convention removed about $600,000 in annual funding from the university after Baylor’s board of trustees amended the university’s charter to create a self-perpetuating board of regents.
___ It has been 10 years since that contentious change, Campbell said, and Baylor has proved its continued loyalty to the BGCT. "It’s time to forgive. It’s time to restore those funds to Baylor University."
___ Campbell said Baylor President Robert Sloan has assured him Baylor wants to be "hard-wired" into the BGCT and cherishes its historic relationship to the state convention.
___ A reporter asked where the funds would be found, since the BGCT has experienced decreased income the last two years. Campbell responded that he hopes the budget changes adopted this year will inspire Texas Baptist churches to give greater funding to the entire range of Texas Baptist ministries.
___ Another reporter asked if the same restoration of funds would be recommended for Houston Baptist University, which last year followed Baylor’s lead and declared a self-perpetuating board. The BGCT responded as with Baylor, removing basic funding for the university.
___ "At the appropriate time, yes," Campbell said. "Baylor’s been at it a lot longer. President Sloan has said, ‘We want to be tied to the BGCT.’"
___ HBU President E.D. Hodo, likewise, has pledged continued strong affiliation with the BGCT, despite the change in governance and funding. In time, HBU, like Baylor, will be able to prove its intentions, Campbell suggested. He said Hodo recently told him, "We want to prove we are a loyal BGCT school."
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