EDITORIAL: BGCT’s 2004 challenge: Align budget with priorities_111703

Posted: 11/14/03

EDITORIAL:
BGCT's 2004 challenge: Align budget with priorities

Missions and ministries muscled their way to the forefront of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' consciousness Nov. 10-11 in Lubbock.

In a time when the BGCT doesn't have nearly enough funds to accomplish all it needs to do, that development must make an impact on how the convention spends its money. The next logical step is a serious study of the budgeting process in light of our priorities.

Messengers to the BGCT annual session took several steps themselves, solidifying the convention's priority on missions and ministries. They:

Got their first close-up look at WorldconneX, the BGCT's missions network that was launched last month. WorldconneX should enable all BGCT Baptists–churches, associations and institutions–to engage directly in missions all across the planet.

Agreed to work on missions and evangelism ventures with the National Baptist Convention of Mexico. The BGCT has partnered with Baptists in other countries, but this is our most strategic alliance. Migration trends and a fluid border make this partnership mandatory. It will be a true partnership, in which Mexican and Texas Baptists both provide and receive resources and share the gospel equally. The partnership's impact will spread far beyond the borders of Mexico and Texas.

Affirmed a new name for Hispanic Baptist Theological School–Baptist University of the Americas–and celebrated the school's accreditation to grant bachelor's degrees. The San Antonio school will play the pivotal role in training church leaders who minister to the majority of Texans in the coming decades and train missionaries who will serve worldwide.

Ratified a BGCT budget that channels $31.9 million to a myriad of missions ministries. These include such longstanding endeavors as the Texas Partnerships Resource Center, River Ministry, Mission Service Corps, the Church Multiplication Center and Texas Baptist Men. The budget supports educational and human welfare ministries all over the state; ministerial training; African-American, Hispanic and intercultural initiatives; and the Minnesota/Wisconsin Baptist Convention. The budget also funds new ventures, such as the Mexico endeavor and WorldconneX.

Emphasized missions like never before. This year's convention schedule moved “missions night” to the middle meeting of the session. Historically, it occurred during the closing session, after many messengers headed for home. This year, almost all participants attended a celebration and declaration of Texas Baptists' missions mandate.

Made a move that received slight debate and few negative votes but sends a signal about Texas Baptists' priorities. Messengers passed a motion–introduced from the floor, not from any board, commission or committee–that “strongly encouraged” the BGCT Administrative Committee to secure $250,000 for restorative justice ministries next year. The messengers asked that an already-tight budget be tapped for a quarter-million dollars in order to supply more money for much-needed ministries.

The budget request highlights Texas Baptists' passionate commitment to missions and ministry–spreading the gospel and meeting the needs of people. It demonstrates Texas Baptists don't care if they take an eraser and pencil to the budget as long as their convention responds to spiritual and physical needs. It illustrates they affirm BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade's admonition to “be the presence of Christ” to people, even if they have to sacrifice to do it.

When you evaluate this budget “encouragement” beside missions and ministries developments in Lubbock, you get a clear picture of BGCT Baptists' priorities: Missions. Direct ministries. Church-starting. Training ministers.

This takes place within a frustrating financial context. Next year's $45.8 million BGCT total budget is a 10 percent decrease. The 2004 Cooperative Program portion of that budget, $39.8 million, reflects a 14 percent drop.

Two primary factors account for the budget decrease. The recent economic slump smacked Texas Baptists, their churches and, consequently, the BGCT. The departure of churches to a competing convention also took its toll, although not in proportion to the number of churches that defected. Economic analysts predict the worst of the recession is behind us. And observers note the loss of churches has slowed to a trickle.

However, the BGCT's compelling commitment to missions and ministries–highlighted by messengers' spontaneous desire to amend the budget to fund a response to a spiritual and physical need–should prompt convention leaders to evaluate the budget. The context created by tight finances also should encourage them to open the process and think creatively about the entire approach to funding what we value.

In his report to the convention, Wade lauded Texas Baptists' desire to “do missions and develop strategies in fresh ways.” Affirming a creative approach to the future, he added: “Nothing has to be done just because it is what we have always done. We should ask questions about how what we do relates to our priorities and our passion.”

Shortly after his election, new BGCT President Ken Hall noted: “I think we're a work in progress as Texas Baptists. We need to look at all the possibilities for growth.”

The BGCT's budget is a key ingredient in the formula for growth. Now is the time for Hall and the vice presidents to appoint a blue-ribbon panel that will evaluate the convention's budget in light of its priorities and suggest new ways of budgeting and working to accomplish our purposes.

–Marv Knox
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