BGCT Executive Board holds hybrid meeting

DALLAS—A majority of Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board members participated in their first in-person meeting in more than a year, gathering in Dallas to hear reports and conduct routine business. Another 23 directors participated in the hybrid-format meeting remotely via Zoom on May 24-25.

Meeting challenges

“I think we’ve made it,” BGCT Executive Director David Hardage told the board in his report. “It’s been a challenging year.”

Texas Baptists rose to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, providing short-term emergency assistance to pastors in need and providing relief for Baptist encampments, he said.

“There’s a lot of noise out there. There are a lot of distractions,” Hardage acknowledged.

But the GC2 initiative—an emphasis on Christ’s Great Commission and Great Commandment—helped Texas Baptists keep their “eyes on the ball,” he added.

“We are a loving-God, loving-others, making-disciples kind of convention,” Hardage said.

Looking ahead, he reported the board at its September meeting may consider a new relationship agreement with the Baptist Standard, pending a decision by the board’s institutional relations committee.

In December 2019, the Baptist Standard Publishing Company’s board of directors adopted a restated and amended certificate of formation, which the organization filed with the Texas Secretary of State. The restated certificate of formation says the non-profit corporation “shall have no members,” reflecting language in the incorporating documents of some other organizations related to the BGCT.

The board also approved a resolution that stated, “Be it resolved that the Baptist Standard Publishing Company will maintain its longstanding partnership with the Baptist General Convention of Texas for the purpose of informing and resourcing the churches and institutions of the convention and the broader Christian community.”

Hardage also noted a recent resolution approved by the Baylor University board of regents. It reaffirmed the university’s traditional statement on human sexuality while opening the door to the possibility of a chartered organization to provide care and support for LGBTQ students.

He reported he had communicated “thoughts, concerns and ideas to BGCT-elected regents and the administration” at Baylor.

“There is a storm brewing,” Hardage said. He pointed to the Equality Act—a bill in the U.S. Congress that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to extend protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity—along with some litigation involving Christian colleges and universities regarding issues of human sexuality.

‘Look up.  Hold on. Stay together.’

BGCT President Jason Burden, pastor of First Baptist Church in Nederland, noted challenges his community has faced in recent years, including hurricanes, tropical storms and a chemical plant explosion. He also described personal challenges, such as a prenatal condition that threatened the lives of the twins born to his son and daughter-in-law.

At times, he confessed, he was tempted to say, “It can’t get any worse.” Burden said he learned to trust in the “anchor” provided in Psalm 29:10-11—“The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever. The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”

Burden offered three admonitions to Texas Baptists during trying days: “Look up. Hold on. Stay together.”

“Hold on to one another. We need each other,” he said.

Ward Hayes, BGCT treasurer and chief financial officer, reported through March 31, BGCT Cooperative Program receipts are at 97.7 percent compared to the same period last year, and gifts are meeting budget expectations. In the first quarter, Texas Cooperative Program gifts totaled $7,578,097.

In its business session, the board approved a recommendation from the finance committee to move amounts in the convention reserve fund in excess of $7 million to an investment account at HighGround Advisors. The current reserve fund balance is more than $15 million.

The board also approved a recommendation to raise the annual matching amount available to ministers’ retirement from $210 to $250. The minimum Cooperative Program contributions required for a church to be eligible for the matching funds will be $1,200 a year for the first participating minister and $500 a year for any additional ministers or staff.

In other business, the board:

• Filled vacancies by electing Tyler Cooper from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas to the Baylor University board of regents and Jorge Zayasbazan, pastor of Baptist Temple in San Antonio, to the board of Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio.
• Redesignated $100,000 of undistributed income from the Roger W. Hall Opportunity Scholarship Fund for each of the next three years to provide program expenses for the BGCT’s church health/revitalization ministry. The maximum amount of scholarship awards was increased from $15,000 to $20,000 per year.
• Appointed Ward Hayes as successor trustee of the Charles Wade Deferred Compensation Insurance Trust, following the resignation of Ronnie McClure from that role. The trustee has the responsibility to handle all necessary filings, administration and tax documentation for the trust.
• Adopted a certified resolution granting the executive director, associate executive director and treasurer/CFO authority to sign checks and contracts. Any nonbudgeted contract exceeding $250,000 requires prior approval of the BGCT Executive Board.
• Revised statements in the BGCT policy manual to bring them in line with the existing organizational structure, as well as updating policy statements regarding counseling services and information technology services usage.