Mission board leaders criticize sentence added to agreement

March 17, 2003

Mission board leaders criticize sentence added to agreement
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___Language in a cooperative missions agreement approved by the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board is "regretful and frustrating," according to Bob Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board.
___Reccord and Terry Fox, chairman of NAMB's board, responded to action by the BGCT Executive Board March 4 on a proposed cooperative agreement between the BGCT and Southern Baptist Convention board.
___Negotiations on the document have been under way for more than a year, and both sides at various points have rejected changes made by the other. The sticking point in the document is NAMB's requirement that jointly funded missionaries sign an affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
___The Southern Baptist Convention's new faith statement has not been embraced by the BGCT, although BGCT officials have said they are willing to work jointly with NAMB in supporting missionaries who are comfortable signing it. The BGCT also has said it will provide other means of funding for Texas missionaries who choose not to meet NAMB's mandate.
___In the latest action, the BGCT Executive Board approved a change proposed by NAMB and then added one sentence above the space where BGCT officials were to sign the document. That sentence reads: "Approved with the understanding that this indicates neither affirmation nor endorsement of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000."
___The BGCT addition falls under an all-capitals heading "BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS" and is distinct from a section below where NAMB officials are to sign, also labeled in all-capitals, "NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD."
___The BGCT accepted a parenthetical rewording required by NAMB officials elsewhere in the document that notes "NAMB's requirement" for jointly funded personnel "to conform to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000."
___Yet in a statement released to the media, both Reccord and Fox accused the BGCT of failing to approve the cooperative agreement.
___"I'm very disappointed that the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Executive Board has again failed to affirm the proposed cooperative agreement approved by trustees of the North American Mission Board," Fox said.
___"This second failure of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas to affirm a proposed cooperative agreement between our two agencies is regretful and frustrating and places at risk the possibility that we could once again work cooperatively to reach Texas and North America for Christ," Reccord added.
___Fox labeled the BGCT's action as "yet another step away from the Southern Baptist Convention and our historic partnership to reach Texas and all of North America, and toward their new missions network and denominational independence."
___Ironically, Fox and Reccord presented a different perspective in a letter faxed to the BGCT the day before the Executive Board meeting. They expressed opposition to the BGCT's proposed closing statement precisely because it "states the obvious," their letter says.
___The BGCT's closing statement "does not change the document in any substantive way" and "does not alter how the agreement operates," the letter from Fox and Reccord notes.
___"I agree," BGCT missions leader E.B. Brooks said in a prepared statement. "I reiterate to the NAMB that the clarifying statement does not alter the context in any way. It simply clarifies our position.
___"I pray that they will accept the agreement fashioned by the diligent, concerted efforts of so many. Texas Baptists would like to move on to the important work we are called to do together."
___The BGCT continues to work with NAMB "on many missions efforts," Brooks added. For example, the BGCT has used NAMB staff as speakers in evangelism and prayer conferences. The BGCT also recruits, trains and provides staff support for Mission Service Corps, a cooperative venture with NAMB. And weekly, BGCT church starters, River Ministry personnel and Baptist Men partner with NAMB staff.
___"We look forward to continued work together for the sake of the gospel," Brooks said. "The clarifying statement is the only thing standing in the way of our reaching an agreement."
___Reccord further criticized comments by Brooks to the Executive Board.
___A BGCT news release stated that Brooks, coordinator of the Church Missions and Evangelism Section, told the board, "The BGCT will use funds retained in Texas to provide missions opportunities for those who cannot, in good conscience, affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message."
___Reccord labeled this comment "disturbing," charging the BGCT has withheld funds from NAMB for administration in Texas on "the pretense of efficiency" while really trying to fund missionaries who won't meet NAMB's strict doctrinal guidelines.
___Brooks responded that he was misquoted.
___"We have reviewed the tapes from the meeting, and a correction has been issued," he said. "I was responding to a question regarding how the BGCT might help persons who cannot affirm the 2000 BF&M. My response was, 'We have indicated to you that we will not propose people for (joint) appointment who do not wish to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.'
___"I did not say that the BGCT would use retained funds for such personnel. ... The new cooperative agreement acknowledges that the BGCT is retaining missions funds that otherwise would have been routed to the NAMB and then sent back to Texas. According to the agreement, adopted by the BGCT Executive Board, these funds are distributed as negotiated between the BGCT and the NAMB. I have both verbally and in writing affirmed this commitment to the staff of the NAMB."
___The BGCT last year began retaining about $1.2 million in Cooperative Program funds that otherwise would have been passed through NAMB and then sent back to Texas for missions support.
___The BGCT still sends money to NAMB for use outside Texas--$7.75 million last year, including $2.9 million in Cooperative Program gifts and $4.6 million in Annie Armstrong Easter Offering gifts.
___The change was made, BGCT officials said, to reduce bureaucracy in dealing with NAMB and to make Texas mission work more flexible and responsive to current needs. Brooks has said on multiple occasions before that the BGCT would provide support for missionaries who did not want to be jointly appointed through NAMB.
___A formal response to the BGCT is expected when NAMB trustees meet May 7.
___With additional reporting by Editor Marv Knox

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