Expanded purpose for BGCT annual meeting proposed

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board unanimously voted to expand the purpose and programming of Texas Baptists’ annual meeting beyond its traditional focus as a business event.

Theme for the 2014 Texas Baptist annual meeting in Waco, Nov. 16-18.The board also agreed to continue scheduling The Gathering—a summer meeting involving the BGCT and its affinity groups and partner fellowships—every five years for at least two more cycles.

The votes responded to a report from an ad hoc annual meeting study committee, which brought a series of recommendations. In several cases, the committee proposed repeal of mandates from a similar study, approved by the BGCT in 2010.

Expanded and inclusive purpose statement

The board will recommend to messengers at the 2014 annual meeting a change in the BGCT bylaws to include an expanded and inclusive purpose statement, as proposed by the study committee.

The revised bylaw states: “The annual meeting of the convention shall be a gathering for the purpose of worship, fellowship, mobilizing, encouraging, informing and uniting Texas Baptists to accomplish the Great Commission, as well as to elect officers; receive recommendations and reports of officers, committees, and boards; and for any other business that may arise or be scheduled.”

The study committee unanimously expressed a desire for a more inclusive purpose statement for the annual meeting, said James Stone of Abilene, chair of the committee.

The recommendation seeks directs planners to adopt a broader purpose that, while including the requirement to conduct business, elevates spiritual, social and educational goals, he noted.

In a related move, the board recommended a change in the BGCT bylaws to rename the Committee on Convention Business as the Committee on the Annual Meeting, expand its size from 16 to 18 members, and change the term of each member from two years to three years.

Change in terminology

It also recommended a change in terminology—from “preacher” and “music director” to “worship leaders”—to give worship planners greater flexibility.

Messengers to this year’s BGCT annual meeting, Nov. 16-18 in Waco, will consider the proposed changes in the convention’s bylaws.

The board approved a recommendation from the study committee that participation goals be set and measured against the percentage of contributing Texas Baptist congregations participating in any given year. It also approved a recommendation that engagement be measured through participant surveys.

At the recommendation of the study committee, appointed in February, the board voted to repeal several requirements proposed by an earlier annual meeting study committee, approved by the BGCT in 2010. Eliminated requirements include rotating themes based on a BGCT Executive Board staff organizational structure no longer in place; holding the 2017 annual meeting in multiple venues linked by technology; dedicating the 2020 meeting to reviewing and possibly revising the Baptist Faith & Message doctrinal statement; and mandating three-day annual meetings, with one session devoted to a service project.

While the committee affirmed the 2010 recommendation to enlist diverse presenters for the annual meeting, the board approved a recommendation to strike the requirement that speakers from outside Texas be enlisted.

The board approved a recommendation that “the Committee on the Annual Meeting seek and secure the best possible meeting locations for the annual meeting based on logistic, programming, participation and financial factors.”