September 2, 2002

BGCT committee endorses world missions network proposal
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___A Texas Baptist committee has recommended creation of a world missions network to help churches send missionaries anywhere on the globe.
___The proposed network would be established as a not-for-profit affiliate of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Its stated purpose would be "to help churches, associations, institutions and individuals fulfill their missions calling through both short-term and long-term missions endeavors across the United States and the world."
___Rather than being a pure alternative to either Southern Baptist Convention or Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missions programs, the new network would work closely with existing Baptist missions agencies, including the SBC's International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, the Baptist World Alliance, the CBF, Texas River Ministry and Texas Partnerships.
___Critics of the BGCT--including those within the SBC and the CBF--have speculated that the BGCT would establish its own global missions board as a direct competitor to the SBC and the CBF. The Texas study committee's recommendation, however, stops short of such drastic action. Instead, the committee proposes a more fluid network.
___"Anybody who wants to come to the table can do so, but they can't set the menu for everyone else," explained Clyde Glazener, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth and chairman of the 24-member Missions Review & Initiatives Committee that made the recommendation.
___"Texas Baptists are interested in a bold new vision, not recreating what already exists through traditional missions sending agencies," said Charles Wade, BGCT executive director. "This world missions network would create a way to connect churches and institutions with needs, opportunities and resources."
___"This is a church-driven network," said E.B. Brooks, coordinator of church missions and evangelism for the BGCT, who served on the Missions Review & Initiatives Committee.
___The BGCT missions network would be funded partially through Cooperative Program gifs to the BGCT, but also through direct gifts. The network also would facilitate mission work funded directly by local churches or networks of churches.
___"The New Testament teaches that the church is at the center of missions. Texas Baptists need fluid and flexible structures that can respond to the moving of the Spirit, enabling and equipping churches to fulfill their missions calling," Wade explained. "The world missions network can provide that kind of church-directed missions."
___ Wade and Glazener made their comments during the Aug. 29-30 meeting of the BGCT Administrative Committee, which received the report of the Missions Review & Initiatives Committee. The full report and recommendations of the missions committee now goes to the BGCT Executive Board for consideration Sept. 24 and then to BGCT annual session messengers in November.
___The Missions Review & Initiatives Committee was created in response to recommendations of the BGCT Missions Sending Agencies Study Committee in May 2001.
___Specifically, the earlier study committee called on the BGCT to focus on "connecting Texas Baptists with Baptist groups around the world" and to recommend "new strategies" to enhance missions involvement. The committee also urged continued monitoring and evaluation of relationships between the BGCT and the missions agencies of the SBC and the CBF.
___The latest committee worked through four subcommittees--one devoted to networking initiatives and the others related to NAMB, the IMB and the CBF.
___The networking initiatives subcommittee, which proposed the world missions network, sponsored "listening sessions" that drew more than 1,000 people from about 250 churches to 15 sites around Texas.
___In the listening sessions, as well as in interviews with pastors who directly addressed meetings of the subcommittee, Texas Baptists told about what they already are doing in missions.
___"Churches want the BGCT to provide vision and support," the committee concluded in its findings. "Participants in listening sessions indicated they want the BGCT to offer resources such as a database of needs and opportunities, strategy planning, cultural training and field assistance."
___ Growing out of that discovery, the committee recommended six actions that were approved unanimously by the Administrative Committee:
___ That a world missions network be established to help churches, associations, institutions and individuals fulfill their missions calling through both short-term and long-term missions endeavors across the United States and the world.
___ That this world missions network connect churches, associations, institutions and individuals to available missions research, education, information, facilitation, training, screening, strategy development and support.
___ That this world missions network, like other existing Texas Baptist entities, be established as a not-for-profit affiliate of the BGCT with a permanent, strong connection to the BGCT, and that the director of the network serve on the BGCT Leadership Council.
___ That this world missions network be governed by a 32-member rotating board, all of whom are Baptists; and that the BGCT elect through its nominating committee for institution boards three-fourths of the board members and the board choose one-fourth.
___ That the initial board of this world missions network be chosen by the president of the convention, the chair of the BGCT Executive Board, the chair of the Administrative Committee, the chair of the Missions Review & Initiatives Committee, the president of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, the president of Texas Baptist Men and the executive director of the BGCT.
___ That this world missions network establish an advisory council to bring together missions experts and representatives of Baptist conventions from across the world on a regular basis to work on further missions endeavors, and that the executive directors of the BGCT, Woman's Missionary Union of Texas and Texas Baptist Men serve on the advisory council.
___ The recommended plan for electing the network's governing board allows the BGCT to maintain strong influence, but it provides the opportunity for representation beyond Texas.
___ "This status creates a close working relationship with the BGCT while providing the ability to respond quickly and effectively to rapidly developing global situations," the report states. "The not-for-profit status enables the network to be recognized as a non-governmental organization, which in some countries allows broader access and acceptance."
___ The recommendation concerning the network's governing board would place it in a position similar to institutions affiliated with the BGCT, if the state convention approves constitutional changes concerning trustee selection. Those amendments, to be considered at both the 2002 and 2003 annual sessions, would allow institutions to elect one-fourth of their trustees, with the BGCT electing the remaining three-fourths.


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