BGCT coordinating boards propose loosening control of trustee boards

September 2, 2002

BGCT coordinating boards propose
loosening control of trustee boards
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Coordinating boards related to Texas Baptist schools and human-care institutions have recommended changes that could allow those entities to elect up to one-fourth of their own trustees.
___The Human Welfare Coordinating Board at its Aug. 23 meeting in Beeville and the Christian Education Coordinating Board at its Aug. 26 meeting in Dallas unanimously approved proposed changes to the trustee-selection process for Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated institutions.
___The changes, which would require amendments to the BGCT constitution, will be presented to the BGCT Executive Board at its Sept. 24 meeting in Dallas.
___If approved by that board, messengers to the BGCT annual session, Nov. 11-12 in Waco, will vote on the amendments. Constitutional changes require two-thirds approval by messengers at two consecutive conventions.
___Currently, the BGCT elects all the trustees for institutions that are affiliated with the convention through its constitutional provisions regarding institutional boards.
___Several institutions--such as Baylor University, Houston Baptist University and Buckner Baptist Benevolences--relate to the BGCT through special agreements. The BGCT elects a percentage of the trustees for those institutions, and the institutions are directly responsible for electing the rest of their boards.
___Special agreements with some institutions have been adopted after tense negotiations between trustee boards and the BGCT. Buckner recently became a model for a negotiated special agreement that paved the way for the proposal now on the table for other agencies.
___If the amendments pass, institutions that are constitutionally affiliated with the BGCT would be able to elect up to 25 percent of their trustee boards. Every trustee still would be required to be an active member of a Baptist church, but it would allow trustees to be members of churches not affiliated with the BGCT.
___Trustees elected by an institution also would have to comply with BGCT criteria regarding limits on terms of service, the naming of successors, degree of relationship and other personal qualifications for service.
___In addition to allowing trustees to serve who are members of churches that now are affiliated uniquely with the rival Southern Baptists of Texas Convention rather than the BGCT, the changes also would allow trustees to be members of churches aligned with historically African-American Baptist conventions, with state Baptist conventions outside Texas or with other Baptist bodies.
___An information form, which includes a signed commitment of service to the institution and the convention, is required of BGCT trustees. A similar form also would be provided to the convention for trustees elected by institutions.
___Keith Bruce, coordinator of BGCT institutional ministries, noted that allowing institutions the freedom to name some out-of-state trustees is particularly important to schools such as Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, which attracts students and financial supporters from New Mexico. Bob Riley, president of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, which draws heavily from Louisiana, affirmed that observation.
___Three university presidents--Riley, Gary Cook from Dallas Baptist University and Jerry Bawcom from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton--attended the Christian Education Coordinating Board meeting. All three voiced support for the changes in the trustee-selection process.
___Two presidents attending the Human Welfare Coordinating Board meeting expressed similar support. They also strongly affirmed their institutions' relationship with the BGCT and stressed that no trustees would be elected who were not supportive of that relationship.
___In addition to affirming the need for some institutions to name a portion of their own trustee boards, the presidents also expressed support for other recommended minor constitutional changes that would keep their schools in technical compliance with accrediting agencies.
___ If the amendments pass, institutions affiliated with the BGCT would be able to elect up to 25 percent of their trustee boards.

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