DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board heard a committee report affirming Texas Baptists’ relationship with Baylor University and a prayer challenge from the BGCT president.
Jeff Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Denton and chair of the BGCT institutional relations committee, told the board his committee unanimously voted to affirm the existing relationship agreement with Baylor for the next 10 years.
The terms of the agreement call for its review every 10 years. The last time the agreement was approved was Nov. 4, 2011. Its regularly scheduled review was delayed due to the COVID pandemic.
Since there were no changes in the agreement, no board action was required.
Baylor has related to the BGCT by had a special agreement for more than three decades. However, Baylor’s relationship to Texas Baptists dates back to its founding in 1845.
“For 178 years, Baylor and Texas Baptists have served side by side to shine a light on God’s kingdom across Texas, the United States and worldwide,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone.
“We remain firmly rooted in our shared history, and Baylor remains committed to maintaining our historic, mutually beneficial relationship with the BGCT and Baptists in Texas. We look forward to continuing our special relationship over the next decade and beyond.”
“The BGCT is optimistic about continuing this mutually beneficial special relationship agreement with Baylor University for another ten years as together we prepare Christian leaders for service in and through Texas Baptists’ churches,” said BGCT Associate Executive Director Craig Christina.
“This relationship enables the BGCT to offer a positive, Christ-centered influence on the issues confronting Baylor’s campus, will strengthen the presence of Baptist Student Ministry on Baylor’s campus, and will ensure our continued partnership with the George W. Truett Theological Seminary.”
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At the Feb. 21 Executive Board meeting in Dallas, BGCT President Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, called on board members to encourage their churches to participate in seven weeks of prayer.
Specifically, he is urging Texas Baptists to pray “your kingdom come”—as Jesus did in the model prayer—beginning the day after Easter and continuing until Pentecost, April 10 to May 28.
“Pentecost did not come without prayer,” Guarneri said, pointing to Acts 2. “It’s not that we can pray down revival, but we can put ourselves in a posture to receive revival when God sends it.”
The specific objective is to “engage Texas Baptists in a concerted prayer effort for God’s kingdom to come in the work of our churches, institutions, associations and churches.”
He offered a guided week-by-week prayer focus that can be downloaded here.
Taking care of business
In a routine business session, the BGCT Executive Board approved a recommendation from its finance committee to allocate $425,000 in available funds from the JK Wadley Endowment Fund, with $150,000 dedicated to Baptist Student Ministry campus missionary interns, $150,000 to BSM building maintenance, $50,000 for a cross-cultural mobilizer, $50,000 for western heritage ministry and $25,000 for MinistrySafe child protection.
The board also approved a committee recommendation to elect Allison Howell from First Baptist Church in Nederland to fill a vacancy on the Executive Board.
At the recommendation of the committee on nominations for boards of affiliated ministries, the Executive Board elected:
- Belinda Reyes from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Sam Medina from One Accord Fellowship Church in Lubbock and W.H. “Bill” Brian from First Baptist Church in Amarillo to the board of trustees at Baptist University of the Américas.
- Tyler Cooper from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas to the Baylor University board of regents.
- Drue Pounds from First Baptist Church in Grapevine and Daniel Stahl from Vista Community Church of Bell County in Temple to the board of trustees at Hardin-Simmons University.
- Rodrick Robinson from First McKinney Baptist Church in McKinney to the Baylor Health Care System board of trustees.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally was posted Feb. 21. It was updated Feb. 22 to include additional quotes provided by Texas Baptists’ communications office.
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