Texas Baptist Men retains relation with BGCT, with BGCT, will work with SBTC

February 24, 2003

Texas Baptist Men retains relation
with BGCT, will work also with SBTC
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___AQUILLA--The Texas Baptist Men Executive Board adopted a resolution reaffirming its unique relationship with the Baptist General Convention of Texas but agreeing to "officially work" with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, its associations and churches.
___The board unanimously passed the resolution and faith statement by secret ballot during a Feb. 15 meeting at Latham Springs Baptist Encampment. Board members stood and gave a rousing round of applause when the outcome of the vote was announced.
___"This permits us to go into every single church in Texas to do the ministry we are called to do," said Andy Andreason, president of Texas Baptist Men. "We want to be able to d

The document affirms the "unique affiliation and partnership" with the BGCT while pledging to "officially work" with the SBTC.

o what God wants, whenever he wants and wherever he wants."
___The document affirms the "unique affiliation and partnership" with the BGCT. Texas Baptist Men is self-governing affiliate of the BGCT. The ministry is largely financially dependent on the BGCT and is housed in BGCT facilities. The BGCT has budgeted $926,888 for Texas Baptist Men in 2003, including $726,888 from the Cooperative Program.
___The SBTC, a rival state convention begun by individuals and churches dissatisfied with the BGCT, does not currently fund Texas Baptist Men through its regular budget.
___Under the new resolution, Texas Baptist Men pledges to "officially work" with the SBTC in a "mutually supportive relationship." The resolution does not require the SBTC to provide any monetary support.
___"There's no commitment," Andreason said. "There's no money. That's the way we wanted it."
___The resolution also affirms Texas Baptist Men working in partnership with men's ministries of other state Baptist conventions as well as the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board and International Mission Board.
___Associations of "Baptist churches in Texas" are specifically called to encourage laymen to join Texas Baptist Men.
___The resolution should unify Texas Baptist Men and quell threats from some SBTC-affiliated churches to remove their volunteers from the organization, predicted Leo Smith, interim executive director of Texas Baptist Men and coauthor of the document.
___The organization had struggled to draft a document indicating a working relationship with the SBTC without denying its 36-year-old unique connection with the BGCT.
___In December 2000, Texas Baptist Men declined to enter into a "fraternal relationship" with the SBTC and affirm the SBTC's required faith statement. Instead, the men's organization revised its constitution to allow membership for laymen from Baptist churches affiliated with a "Baptist association in Texas, the Baptist General Convention of Texas or the Southern Baptist Convention."
___At its October 2001 meeting, the Texas Baptist Men executive board declared they would help any Baptist church in Texas.
___These actions did not satisfy SBTC leaders, who wanted specific recognition, Smith explained at a Feb. 25, 2002, executive board meeting.
___At that meeting, a task force of former Texas Baptist Men presidents and retired staff presented a resolution expressing a "working relationship" with the BGCT, the SBTC, the SBC and all Texas associations.
___A heated discussion ensued, and several board members expressed regret that they had to take such a political action to continue the ministry. The resolution passed 44-15 with a significant number of board members absent and others abstaining.
___Seeing the stark reluctance to vote on the resolution and the division it already caused, Smith declared it was not God's timing to pass the document and tabled the resolution "until the Father himself lifts it off."
___The latest resolution was brought forward after months of revision and conversations with leaders of both Texas conventions. The SBTC executive committee will consider the working relationship April 3. The BGCT is not required to offer any further approval of the resolution.
___"I commend Leo Smith on his hard work in helping to clear the way for Texas Baptist Men to work with the men in the SBTC churches," said Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT. "Our close and unique relationship with Texas Baptist Men will continue, and we will work to encourage and help them to the glory of God."
___The approved resolution includes a series of theological clarifications of the group's beliefs. Texas Baptist Men affirmed a belief in the Bible as a completely accurate "final authority" for its faith and practice, salvation by grace, Jesus as the model for ministry and a Christian calling to ministry.
___The document does not include the term "inerrancy" or reference the controversial 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
___Texas Baptist Men leaders said they hope to present a model to bring the two Texas conventions closer together.
___"This can be a resounding statement to all that we can dialogue and do kingdom work," Smith said.
___

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