Posted: 11/07/03
SBTC elects Osborne president
and marks fifth anniversary in Corpus
CORPUS CHRISTI (BP)–Chris Osborne, pastor of Central Baptist Church of Bryan, was elected president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention during the convention's fifth annual meeting.
A total of 831 messengers registered for the convention, representing 338 of the SBTC's 1,371 uniquely or dually affiliated congregations. The SBTC formed as a breakaway from the Baptist General Convention of Texas by a group desiring to be more closely aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Osborne was nominated by Gil Lane, pastor of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo. Osborne, who served as Pastors' Conference president this year, succeeds George Harris, retired pastor of Castle Hills First Baptist Church in San Antonio.
Other officers are David Galvan, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Garland, first vice president; Bill Sutton, pastor of First Baptist Church in McAllen, second vice president; and Brenda Wills of First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, recording secretary.
The convention adopted a $16.3 million budget for 2004 and pledged to continue sending 52 percent of undesignated receipts to the SBC. The budget represents an 18 percent increase.
Of the $7.8 million in Cooperative Program giving allocated for in-state use, 29.49 percent will fund missions work and 9.29 percent will advance evangelism. The remainder includes 14.19 percent for minister/church relations; 13.78 percent for church ministry support; 11.57 percent for affiliated and fraternally related ministries; 10.93 percent for operational and financial services; and 10.75 percent for communications.
Gerald Smith, outgoing Executive Board chairman, reported that because of the “generous gifts of God's people” the SBTC is building a 30,000-square-foot office in Grapevine.
Executive Director Jim Richards read a greeting from President Bush, congratulating the convention on its five-year anniversary.
The convention also included presentations on the SBTC's relationships with East Texas Baptist Family Ministry, Criswell College, Korean Baptist Fellowship of Texas, Texas Baptist Men and Houston Baptist University.
Paul Pressler of Houston presented the third Paul Pressler Distinguished Service Award to Rudy Hernandez, the SBTC's special assistant to the executive director for Hispanic ministries and a former SBTC president.
The convention passed nine resolutions, most dealing with social-political issues. They included statements on human sexuality, the Federal Marriage Amendment, gratitude for Gov. Rick Perry, disagreement with the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Texas' sodomy law, concern for the sanctity of human life, an appeal for participation in Christian citizenship, a statement on church-state relations and an appeal for greater missions giving.
Next year's meeting will be Oct. 25-26 at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.
The SBTC Pastors' Conference elected Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, as president; Alan Burkhalter, pastor of Chaparral Hills Baptist Church in Amarillo, first vice president; and Dale Norris, pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church in Mabank, second vice president.
The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention passed nine resolutions, most dealing with social-political issues.
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