November 4, 2002






Business guide to the BGCT annual session Nov. 11-12
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DATE/TIME ISSUE BACKGROUND
Monday,
1:15 p.m.		 Election
of
officers		 Convention officers are elected in a series of votes, beginning with nominations of presidential candidates, followed by nominations for vice presidents and the recording secretary and registration secretary. Nominations are accepted from the floor. Nominees already identified include Bob Campbell of Houston, who will be nominated for a second term as president; Rudy Camacho of Fort Worth, who will be nominated for first vice president; and Debbie Ferrier of Houston, who will be nominated for second vice president.
Monday,
2:30 p.m.		 Missions
study
report		 During the Executive Board's report, messengers will hear from the Missions Review & Initiatives Committee a report with 16 recommendations. The report covers extensive review of the ministries and structures of all mission agencies to which BGCT churches relate. A copy of the full report is available at www.baptiststandard.com. Among the committee's recommendations are items that would create a BGCT world missions network to help churches share resources on worldwide missions efforts in addition to the agency resources already offered. The recommendations also include an admonition that the BGCT adopt a new cooperative agreement with the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. Messengers will not vote on the language of that cooperative agreement, since negotiations remain ongoing between NAMB and the BGCT Executive Board.
Monday,
2:30 p.m.		 Budget recommendation Also as part of the Executive Board report, messengers will consider a BGCT budget for 2003 of $50.9 million, including $46.2 million in Cooperative Program giving. This will include a recommendation that the BGCT alter its distribution of undesignated Cooperative Program funds in two significant ways: (1) That funding caps and exclusions adopted by the convention in 2000 for the portion of gifts forwarded to the SBC be lifted; and (2) that the recommended percentage split between undesignated Cooperative Program gifts be changed to 79 percent for the BGCT and 21 percent for worldwide causes as chosen by the churches. The current recommended split is 72.32 percent to the BGCT and 27.68 percent to worldwide causes.
Monday,
2:30 p.m.		 Board member elections Messengers will consider nominations of individuals to serve on the BGCT Executive Board and as trustees of BGCT-related agencies and institutions. The complete list of nominees is published on page 20 of this week's Standard.
Monday,
2:30 p.m.		 Baptist Health System The board of Baptist Health System in San Antonio has asked the convention's permission to sell the five-hospital system to a for-profit corporation, Vanguard Health Systems, in order to bring the Baptist hospitals back into financial viability. As part of the transaction, Vanguard would establish a local ministry foundation with an endowment of about $100 million. Details of the proposal may be found online at www.baptiststandard.com. The BGCT Executive Board has affirmed this as the most viable option to keep the hospitals running.
Monday,
4:40 p.m.		 Election of officers Second round of elections as needed
Monday,
4:55 p.m.		 Introduction of business At this time, messengers may introduce items of business for later consideration by the convention. The committee on order of business will schedule hearings for all new business.
Monday,
7:20 p.m.		 Election of officers Third round of elections as needed, followed by additional voting at 9:10 p.m. if needed.
Monday,
9:15 p.m.		 Introduction of business At this time, messengers may introduce items of business for later consideration by the convention. The committee on order of business will schedule hearings for all new business.
Tuesday,
9:50 a.m.		 Trustee
election
changes		 Messengers will consider a recommendation from the BGCT's Human Welfare Coordinating Board and Christian Education Coordinating Board that BGCT institutions be allowed to elect up to 25 percent of their own board members outside the normal BGCT nomination process. This change would give all BGCT institutions the ability to do what some institutions already have negotiated on their own. Proponents say the change would increase diversity on the trustee boards. The proposal has been affirmed by the Executive Board.
Tuesday,
11:40 a.m.		 Resolutions The convention's resolutions committee will present a slate of resolutions drafted either by the committee or by messengers who have submitted ideas in advance. The resolutions are non-binding statements of the opinions of messengers to the annual session.


Inspirational highlights of the annual session program
Monday afternoon: Executive director's report, greetings from Denton Lotz of the Baptist World Alliance, special music by the Far East Broadcasting Company's Children's Choir, message by BWA President Billy Kim.

Monday evening: Baptist distinctives emphasis, State Missions Commission report, president's message by Bob Campbell.

Tuesday morning: Christian Life Commission report, State Missions Commission report, convention sermon by George Gaston.

Tuesday afternoon: Convention adjourned for auxiliary meetings, including Texas Baptist Men and Texas Woman's Missionary Union.

Tuesday evening: Recognitions of top-giving churches; missions emphasis with testimonies on the missional church strategy, WMU, restorative justice ministries, Olympic ministries, international missions, disaster relief, Hispanic ministries, River Ministry, student summer missions, ministry to street children in Kenya, partnership missions in China; special music by the Singing Men of Texas.

___All convention sessions will be held at the Ferrell Center on Baylor University's campus. The exhibit hall will be at the Waco Convention Center.

The Baptist Standard



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