• Ramon Aranda to Jerusalem Church in Natalia as pastor.

• Gayle Baucum has resigned as interim pastor at Pioneer Valley Church in Valley View.

• David Bowman to Tarrant Association as executive director.

• Wade Brand to Gribble Springs Church in Sanger as pastor.

• Billie Brewer to Lone Oak Church in Harleton as pastor.

• Jimmy Davis to Pioneer Valley Church in Valley View as interim pastor.

• David Dixon to First Baptist Church in Neches as pastor from Sharon Church in Arp.

• Bacillo Esquivel to Templo Church in Abilene as pastor.

• James Gilbert to First Church in Meridian as associate pastor for music and youth.

• Stan Harvey to Black Creek Church in Bigfoot as pastor, where he was interim pastor.

• Reid Kirk to Fairview Church in Sherman as worship pastor.

• Alex Miller has resigned as music and youth minister at First Church in Bells.

• Staci Moore to First Church in Sanger as children's minister.

• Victor Quintanilla to Calvary Church in Denison as youth minister.

• Steve Rice to First Church in Sherman as minister of education and administration from First Church in Redwater, where he was pastor.

• Mark Roach to Belmont Church in Denison as pastor.

• Chas Shira has resigned as youth minister at McKinney Street Church in Denton.

• Ben Smith to First Church in Lake Dallas as pastor.

• Jeff Taylor to First Church in Jefferson as pastor.

• Michael Walker to Karnack Church in Karnack as pastor.

• Baylor University's Truett Seminary will hold its annual Parchman lectures Oct. 11-13. Scot McKnight, professor of religious studies at North Park University in Chicago, will be the featured speaker. Monday's 9:30 a.m. lecture will focus on "American Evangelicalism and the Pastor," while the 7:30 p.m. talk will center on "Universalism and the Pastor." Tuesday's 9:30 a.m. lecture will be on "The Gospel and the Pastor," and Wednesday morning's talk will be on "The Atonement and the Pastor." All events are free and open to the public.

• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Christian Studies Forum will be held at noon Oct. 13 in the Shelton Theater of the Mabee Student Center. David Morgan, pastor of Trinity Church in Harker Heights, will speak on "Wrestling with a Just Response to National Debt and Taxes." The event is free and open to the public.

• East Texas Baptist University will hold a Christian writers conference Oct. 28-29. The conference will feature more than 15 presenters with sessions de-signed to help beginning writers, as well as those who are more experienced. The cost of attending the conference on Oct. 29 is $80 if registered before Oct. 21. Conference activities begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, ending at 4:30 p.m. If a participant registers after Oct. 21, the fee is $90 and does not include the noon meal. The preconference sessions, held on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m., cost an additional $35 if registered by Oct. 21. The late registration fee for the preconference sessions is $40. Registration fees cover workshops and materials. Call (903) 923-2083 to register or for more information. A schedule for both days is also posted on the ETBU website.

• A fun walk and 5K run will be held Oct. 29 to benefit the Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute of Dallas, an affiliate of the Baylor Health Care System and Baylor University Medical Center. For more information on the run, go to dhwidallas.com.

• Ben Delgado has been named executive vice president/ chief operating officer of Baptist Child & Family Services.

• Gary Manning, professor of religion and religious education at Wayland Baptist University, was awarded the Lewis M. Newman Award for his "outstanding contributions in the field of supervised ministry" by the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals.

• Kalie Lowrie has been named director of news and information at Dallas Baptist University. She previously was director of media relations at Howard Payne University.

Anniversaries

• First Church in Hallettsville, 160th, Aug. 28. Terry Horton is pastor.

• Center Grove Church in Saltillo, 125th, Sept. 18.

• Ben Condray, 15th, as minister of families/counseling at First Church in Midlothian, Oct. 1.

• Mark Kemp, 20th, as pastor of First Church in Copperas Cove, Oct. 2.

• Ronnie Freeman, 10th, as pastor of First Church in Trent, Oct. 9.

• Antioch Church in Tyler, 160th, Oct. 9. Craig Little is pastor.

• Black Oak Church in Como, 155th, Oct. 9. Lyndon Petty is pastor.

• First Mexican Church in Belton, 75th, Oct. 30. An anniversary service will be held at 2 p.m. Eliseo Arriaga is pastor.

• Scott Adams, 10th, as minister of education at Hillcrest Church in Bryan.

• Chris Briggs, 10th, as minister to students at Hillcrest Church in Bryan.

• Brian Crump, 10th, as minister of missions and assimilation at First Church in Bryan.

• First Church in Big Spring, 125th, Nov. 13. A special anniversary worship service will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by a meal. For more information, call (432) 267-8223. Mark Lindsey is pastor.

• South Garland Church in Garland, 40th, Nov. 20. Events begin with a continental breakfast at 8:15 a.m. followed by a combined Bible study for all youth and adults and a 10:15 a.m. worship service. A meal and concert with the Isaacs will be held at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Hotel on the Bush Freeway at North Garland Avenue. Tickets for the dinner and concert are $25 for individuals age 12 and older. Childcare will be available by reservation only. Call (972) 271-5428 for more information. Larry Davis is pastor.

• Tarrant Association, 125th, Nov. 20. The celebration will be held at Great Commission Church, 7700 McCart Avenue in Fort Worth. Showcases of numerous ministries in Tarrant Association will be featured from 5 p.m to 6 p.m., as well as exhibits from some of the 40 churches in the association that are more than 100 years old. The anniversary celebration and annual meeting will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature Bethlehem Church's male choir, video testimonies and scenes from Faith in Action weekends. David Bowman is executive director.

Deaths

• A.M. Mackey Jr., 87, Sept. 5 in Abilene. In ministry 62 years, he was chaplain at the Middleton Unit in Abilene, and for the last four years, he was pastor of Holiday Hills Church in Abilene. He was one of the last two senior statesmen of the Progressive West Texas Baptist Association. He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine; son, Nathan; brothers, Oza and Louis; and sister, Leola Johnson. He is survived by his son, James; sister, Lovie Simpson; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

• Arla Ray Tyson, 89, Sept. 7 in Dallas. She was the widow of Arthur Tyson, former president of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Grand Canyon College in Arizona. She retired as a schoolteacher in 1986. She was a member of First Church in Dallas 31 years, and for the last seven years had been a member of First Church in Lancaster. A soprano soloist, she traveled the world singing. She is survived by her son, Morris; grandson, Morris II, and great-granddaughter, Jacque-line Tyson.

• Ralph Jackson, 70, Sept. 16 in Lubbock. He was pastor of Mount Zion Church in Lubbock. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; daughters, Makeba Jackson, Veltina Hicks, Beverly Williams, Carmen Beck, Sylvia Coleman and Triss Jesse; sons, Roland Jackson, Jerry Coleman, and Deonte and Triston Edwards; mother, Emma Jackson; brother, Kenneth; sisters, Gwendolyn Rolin, Barbara Jackson, Phyllis Jackson, Sheila Windham and Pamela Greenwood.

• Virginia Seelig, 88, Sept. 20 in Fort Worth. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, she joined the Southwestern Sem-inary music faculty in 1958, where she taught 27 years before retiring. As a singer, her appearances included roles with the Dallas Opera, Casa Manana and as soloist for the Messiah presented for King Hussein and the queen of Jordan. She and her longtime singing partner, Joe Ann Shelton, appeared throughout the United States, as well as with Billy Graham crusades in the United States and England. The seminary presented her with the Distinguished Service Award in 1988. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, John Earl; sons, Stephen and Timothy; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

• Harry Jeanes, Sept. 22 in Waco. A 1934 Baylor University graduate, he served on the school's board of trustees 18 years, and as regent emeritus since 1990. In 1999, he and his wife, Anna, were awarded the Founders Medallion, the university's award reserved for men and women whose service and contributions have been unusually significant to the life and future of the university. In 2006, Jeanes received an honorary doctor of humane letters from the university acknowledging his lifelong service. He also was recognized as a recipient of the W.R. White Meritorious Service Award and as a 1999 distinguished alumnus. The Jeanes family established an endowment for the academic honors week program and made provision for the Harry and Anna Jeanes Discovery Center, the centerpiece of the Mayborn Museum complex, which benefits both children and adults in the Waco community. After his wife's death in 2007, Jeanes established en-dowed scholarship funds in athletics, music and business in her memory. They were recognized in the Judge R.E.B. Baylor Society at the bronze level of the Medallion Fellowship for their generosity, received the Herbert H. Reynolds Award, were inducted into the Diamond Circle of the Endowed Scholarship Society and also were members of Old Main Society and 1845 Society. He was a longtime member of Columbus Avenue Church in Waco.

• Harold Sellers, 74, Sept. 23 in Huntsville, Ala. A minister more than 50 years, many spent as a pastor in Texas and Alabama, he was director of missions for Madison Association in Ala-bama. Previously, he had been director of missions for Coastal Plains Baptist Area in Rosenberg from 1987 to 2004. He had served as chaplain to the police departments in Rosenberg and Huntsville, Ala. He was preceded in death by his brother, Larry. He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Margaret; daughter, Londa Hladky; son, Daryl; brothers, Kenneth and Ferrell; sister, Ernestine Dismuke; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

• Jewette McLaughlin, 91, Sept. 24 in Fort Worth. She was baptized at age 6 in the Concho River. A 1941 graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, she was a lifelong supporter of missions. Her husband, Charlie, was director of state missions for the Baptist General Convention of Texas more than 25 years. Most of her life, she was a member of First Church in Dallas. She was preceded in death by her husband and oldest son, Manse. She is survived by her daughter, Sheila Sims; son, Charles; sister, Mary Jim Currie; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.

• Beth James, 37, Sept. 24 in Houston. She died as a result of pancreatic cancer. At the time of her death, she was children's and families pastor at First Church in Kaufman. She previously served at First Church in Gainesville. She is survived by her husband, David; son, Brian; daughter, Emily; mother, Becky LaFlamme; father and stepmother, Richard and Alice LaFlamme; sisters, Lee Ann Pool and Melissa Pulte; stepsisters, Anita Threadgill and Rhonda Tiedt; and stepbrothers, Stanley and Brad Lambert.

• Boyd O'Neal, 86, Sept. 24 in McKinney. A graduate of Howard Payne University and South-western Seminary, he was ordained to the ministry by Coggin Avenue Church in Brownwood in 1944. He was pastor of Silver Valley Church in Coleman County while attending college and Calvary Church in Stephenville while in seminary. He and his wife, Irma, were appointed missionaries to Brazil by the Foreign Mission?Board in 1949, where they served until 1988. At that time, they moved to Richmond, Va., where he became coordinator of Volunteers-in-Missions. He retired in 1996, and moved to McKinney, and he continued to serve through First Church there. He was preceded in death by seven brothers, five sisters and a great-grandson. He is survived by his wife of 66 years; daughters, Melba Hogue, Betty Brown and Becky Gore; son, James; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Ordained

• Mike Ford as a deacon at South Garland Church in Garland.

• Billy Powers, John Brunson and Ron Lue-Tan as deacons at The Church at Friendship in Hockley.

Revival

• Meeker Church, Beaumont; Oct. 23-26; evangelist, Lennie Wilson; pastor, Ralph Thompson.

ABILENE—References from the King James Version of the Bible permeate language, said Larry Brunner, senior professor of English at Hardin-Simmons University.

Expressions like “to see eye to eye” or “labor of love” all have made it to  modern times  because they are used in the King James translation of Scripture.

As the King James translation turns 400 years old, it remains the most read book of all-time. Even though the highest-lauded of all versions of the Bible, it is neither the oldest nor the first to be translated into English. It is also not among the first “authorized” English Bibles. Still, the KJV is one of the most recognized and widely used Bibles today.

Hardin-Simmons University has four first editions of the King James Bible among its two extensive Bible collections, and those are the books that inspired the two-day celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version in mid-September.

“As the best-selling book in world history, the King James Bible has had an incalculable impact on the English-speaking world and the church,” said Bob Ellis, professor of Old Testament and associate dean at HSU’s Logsdon Seminary.

“There have been more allusions, more references to the King James Version than any other literary work. It’s central to any understanding of English literature,”  Brunner added.

The conference aimed to explore the translation from multiple academic angles and included presentations from faculty members in the history department, Logsdon School of Theology and Seminary, the English department, the School of Music, and even business and art professors who explored how the KJV has affected the way we live our lives and do business today.

Mike Jones, Professor and head of the art department,  discussed the role of the King James Bible in book design and production, and John Davis, assistant professor of management  from the Kelley College of Business,  discussed the influence the King James Bible has had on management styles and management literature.

One of the driving forces behind the HSU event was Ellis.

“Because we have these two remarkable Bible collections, the 400th anniversary of the KJV provided an ideal context for celebrating the rich history of the Bible in English,” he said.

The Bible collections and the original KJVs housed at Hardin-Simmons come from two donors, Mrs. Inez Kelley and her late husband Doyle Kelley, and Charles and Roena Tandy.

The Kelleys met and married while at HSU and moved into their first apartment. During one of the seminar sessions, Inez Kelley described how her husband filled that apartment with orange crates full of books.

“He had a real love for the written word,” she said. “But I have learned more about his Bible collection now since his death (in October 2009) than I did when he was alive,” she said.

“Doyle bought his first Bible in London 30 years ago this October,” she told the audience gathered for a dinner session. “I went to Harrods Department Store. He went to museums and used book stores.

“That day I bought a cashmere sweater, he bought a Bible. The very next winter when I got that cashmere sweater out of the closet, our Houston moths had made it threadbare. The Bible Doyle bought that day was a 1599 Geneva Bible which is now at HSU. I ask you, who made the better purchase?”

Tandy, who attended HSU from 1946 to 1949, and is now an anesthesiologist in Dallas, told attendees that collecting Bibles has engrossed him since his attendance at a Sunday school party in 1960.

Charles Ryrie, the class teacher, was reading the Ten Commandments. Everything seemed to be in order, until he reached the seventh item on the list: “Thou shalt commit adultery.”

As it turned out, Ryrie was reading from the so-called “Wicked Bible,” a 1631 reprint of the original King James Version that contained the infamous misprint. Tandy’s curiosity about the Wicked Bible soon became an obsession, as he and his wife began amassing a collection of rare Bibles, many more than 400 years old.

“You never truly own anything,” Tandy said. “It’s been a pleasure to have had them and enjoy them for a period of time,” he said of his gift to HSU. Mrs. Kelley believes her late husband would concur with that assessment, “Doyle just considered himself a caretaker.”

DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board voted to recommend to the state convention a flat budget for 2012, turning aside an attempt to restore a significant portion of $900,000 Baylor University loses in the budget proposal.

Messengers will vote on the proposed BGCT budget at the state convention’s annual meeting, Oct. 24-26 in Amarillo.

BGCT Treasurer and CFO Jill Larsen provides explanation about the proposed 2012 budget.

The proposed BGCT budget depends on $33.85 million in Cooperative Program receipts from churches, along with an anticipated $2.15 million in investment income and an additional $2 million from non-church donors for a net budget of $38 million, equal to 2011.

Counting revenue from conference and booth fees, product sales, the North American Mission Board and other miscellaneous sources, the BGCT anticipates $41,342,531 total revenue.

The budget includes a slight salary increase for employees after two years with no pay raises.

The budget is divided 49 percent for evangelism/missions, 27 percent for education/discipleship, 14 percent for administration and 10 percent for advocacy/care.
Most budget discussion focused on institutional funding, particularly related to Baylor University.

Based on a new way of determining financial support for institutions related to the BGCT, the budget proposal reduces total BGCT financial support for Baylor from about $2.8 million to $1.9 million. The university’s operating budget is more than $428 million this year.

Excluding funding for Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary—which remains at about $1.1 million—BGCT support for Baylor decreases from more than $1.72 million in 2011 to $831,175 in 2012.

BGCT-related institutions fit into two categories—affiliated and related. Messengers to the BGCT annual meeting elect at least 75 percent of the governing boards of what the convention recognizes as affiliated institutions. A few institutions, such as Baylor, relate to the BGCT through contractual special agreements that allow those institutions more control over the selection of their boards.

Under the new approach reflected in the budget recommendation, all schools will receive a $625,000 base amount, and all will receive funding for ministerial education, BGCT Associate Executive Director Steve Vernon explained.

In the past, all schools also have received a prorated grant based on student enrollment—an approach that particularly benefited Baylor as the largest school related to the BGCT. The new funding approach limits prorated funding to affiliated institutions, not schools that relate to the convention by special agreement—Baylor and Houston Baptist University.

Randy Wallace, pastor of First Baptist Church in Killeen, presents a motion at the BGCT Executive Board meeting that would have restored about two-thirds of the funding Baylor University stands to lose in the proposed 2012 budget. (PHOTO/John Hall/BGCT)

Baylor President Ken Starr, who attended the BGCT Executive Board meeting to respond to questions about a renegotiated relationship agreement between the convention and the university, also addressed the matter of funding in the Institutional Relations Committee and its education subcommittee, as well as before the full board.

“We are disappointed but understanding and respectful of the process,” Starr said. “Baylor will not be mounting an appeal, especially because we understand if changes are made in the proposed budget, that would be taking resources from our sibling institutions.”

Starr indicated he believes Baylor may not have done an adequate job communicating to the board how important BGCT funds are to the university’s religion department and its Institute for Faith and Learning, for its programs related to missions and spiritual life, and for scholarships to made available to children of ministers and missionaries.

He also noted Baylor University continues to subsidize Truett Theological Seminary at about $1.5 million annually, in addition to the funds the BGCT makes available for the seminary.

While Starr did not appeal for additional money, Randy Wallace, pastor of First Baptist Church in Killeen, introduced a motion that sparked extended discussion about the matter.

Wallace proposed retaining the current funding formula the BGCT has been using for educational institutions.

Allowing for other budget adjustments affecting Houston Baptist University and Baptist University of the Americas, the net result would have been about $2.58 million in BGCT funding for Baylor—a reduction of $300,000 as opposed to $900,000.

The motion ultimately failed by a 34 to 19 vote, but not until after extended discussion.

Kyle Morton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Port Arthur, spoke in favor of Wallace’s motion. He noted the larger context of Baylor’s decision to allow some non-Baptists on its board of regents and the subsequent call for a renegotiated relationship agreement between the state convention and the university.

“I don’t feel like this is the right time” to make a major funding change, Morton said. “I realize the heart behind this is not punitive. But from the outside looking in, it looks that way. It’s not wise at this time.”

Jeff Humphrey, minister of education at First Baptist Church in Allen, also noted some people who see it as one more in a series of perceived “swipes taken at Baylor” by the board. “Perception is reality for some,” he said.

Bruce Webb, pastor of First Baptist Church in The Woodlands, offered an amendment to the motion, seeking to refer the matter back to the finance subcommittee. That motion failed.

In other business, the BGCT Executive Board:

• Elected officers Van Christian, pastor of First Baptist Church in Comanche, as chair and Stephen Hatfield, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lewisville, as vice chair.

• Approved an in-kind debt repayment agreement with Baptist University of the Americas. From the time BUA purchased land in 2006 to the present, the school’s debt to the BGCT grew to $2.68 million.

Under the terms of the repayment agreement, BUA will repay $326,026 in accrued interest. The remaining debt will be paid off through in-kind credits as BUA trains ministers for churches in Texas or along the Texas/Mexico border through its Baptist Bible Institutes.

The institutes offer basic training for ministers with limited educational background. According to the agreement, BUA earns in-kind debt repayment credit as students earn certificates of completion and accept ministry positions in BGCT churches. Vernon, who called the proposal “a win/win for BUA and Texas Baptists” could produce anywhere from 1,100 to 2,600 new trained vocational ministers for churches, with a specific target of 1,700 to 1,800 ministers.

After 10 years, a final accounting will be completed to determine how much of the debt has been paid in kind, and how much—if any—of the original amount remains due the BGCT.

• Recommended a constitutional change giving the Executive Board authority to adopt the annual budget every fifth year, when the annual meeting is held in the summer rather than the fall.

Last year, BGCT messengers approved a study committee proposal regarding ways to increase involvement in the annual meeting. One recommendation focused on holding the meeting in the summer once every five years in conjunction with the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and the African-American Fellowship, rather than in the fall. The first summer event is scheduled for 2013.

Granting the Executive Board authority to approve a budget on behalf of the convention once every five years would demand a change in the BGCT constitution. As such, it would require approval by messengers at two consecutive annual meetings.

• Recommended changes in Texas world missions and partnership funds.
The board approved a proposal that the worldwide portion of cooperative giving continue to support missions mobilization, River Ministry and Mexico missions, Texas Partnerships, Baptist World Alliance, intercultural international ministries, international ministries of Texas Baptist Men, the Go Now student missions program, and promotion for the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger and the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

The proposal also recommends continued time-limited funding for western heritage churches, the Hispanic Education Task Force, non-English evangelism materials and the Hope 1:8 evangelism/ministry initiative.

The recommendation includes new funding for a Hispanic leadership training initiative, intercultural refugee ministry, chaplains serving outside Texas and a church starting initiative that involves people from India who live in Texas.

DALLAS—The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board endorsed a renegotiated relationship agreement with Baylor University that grants the school greater influence in determining the composition of its governing board.

After extended discussion, the Executive Board rejected a motion to delay action on the relationship agreement until its February 2012 meeting.

Baylor President Ken Starr speaks in support of a renegotiated relationship agreement between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the university. (PHOTO/John Hall/BGCT)

Instead, the board voted to recommend the revised agreement to the BGCT annual meeting in Amarillo, Oct. 24-26.

In recommending a 2012 budget to the annual meeting, the board also debated — but ultimately rejected — a proposal that would have restored a major portion of the $900,000 Baylor stands to lose in BGCT financial support next year.

For 20 years, the BGCT has related to Baylor through a special agreement the convention and university reached after Baylor changed its charter.

At its May meeting, the Executive Board directed Associate Executive Director Steve Vernon to invite Baylor University President Ken Starr to develop a process for renegotiating the 20-year-old agreement. That action came in response to Baylor’s decision in February to allow non-Baptist Christians on its board of regents.

A six-member committee—with Roger Hall, Ed Jackson and Bill Brian representing the BGCT and Buddy Jones, David Harper and Ramiro Peña representing Baylor—negotiated the revised agreement.

Jackson, a retired engineer from First Baptist Church in Garland, emphasized the importance of the preamble to the renegotiated agreement, which emphasizes the historic importance of the partnership between Baylor and the BGCT.

The key difference in the renegotiated agreement and the previous agreement rests in where the nominating process for regents begins, noted Brian, an attorney from First Baptist Church in Amarillo.

Since 1991, Baylor University has elected 75 percent of its board of regents, and messengers to the BGCT annual meeting have elected 25 percent.

Under the revised agreement, the school’s BGCT-elected regents will be nominated by a five-member committee composed of two people designated by the convention, the president of Baylor or a person the president designates, the chair of the Baylor regents or a person the chair designates and one additional member designated by the regent chair, with the stipulation that individual must be a member of a BGCT-affiliated church.

Currently, the five-member group that nominates BGCT-elected Baylor regents consists of four people named by the BGCT Committee on Nominations for Boards of Affiliated Ministries and either the chair of the Baylor regents or a person he designates.

After originating with the five-person committee, the nominees for regents would go to the Committee on Nominations for Board of Affiliated Ministries and then on to the state convention annual meeting for consideration.

The revised agreement also states Baylor has the right to confirm —“or not to confirm with good cause”—regents elected by the BGCT as set forth in the university’s governing documents.

“Because the BGCT’s authority is a delegation of authority from Baylor and because of issues related to Baylor’s accreditation, the BGCT agrees that it will consider Baylor’s best interests as the only criterion in the selection of Baylor … (regents), subject to a requirement that the individual person elected shall be a member of a BGCT church,” the agreement states.

The agreement specifically notes potential conflicts of interest or other qualification issues would not present a barrier to election of regents if waived by the university.

“The BGCT recognizes that Baylor is an independent, nonprofit, nonmember corporation under the laws of the state of Texas with the full legal right, power and authority to amend or rescind its certificate of formation, bylaws or other governing documents without approval or consent of the BGCT or any other party, notwithstanding any terms and conditions of this agreement,” the document states.

The BGCT Executive Board rejected a motion to postpone action on the agreement made by Bob Fowler, an attorney and member of South Main Baptist Church in Houston.

“What we got under the leadership of (former Baylor President) Herb Reynolds in 1991 was a real agreement, reciprocal as to the rights and obligations of both BGCT and Baylor. However, this proposed document, in my opinion, is much more akin to what we lawyers would call a ‘settlement agreement, incident to a divorce.’ But, in this ‘settlement agreement,’ the faithful party seems to be punished for her faithfulness,” Fowler said.

Vernon Webb from First Baptist Church in San Antonio addressed a perceived imbalance in the recommended agreement and a need for the board to give the matter further consideration.

“Each entity is autonomous, and neither should dominate the other,” Webb said.

Jackson expressed his belief the renegotiated agreement is “a balanced document” that safeguards BGCT interests, as well as addressing Baylor’s desire for greater input early in the regent-nominating process.

At the same time, he and several members of the Executive Board noted Baylor granted any BGCT representation on its board of regents as a concession after its charter change.

“The selection of six regents (by the BGCT) is a gift from the Baylor board of regents,” Jackson noted.

Van Christian, pastor of First Baptist Church in Comanche, made the same point.

“As a convention, we may be getting a little big for our britches. Our representation on the Baylor board of regents is due to their grace,” Christian said. “We hurt ourselves if we try to play hardball on this. … We are not the power party in the negotiations.”

Addressing the board, Starr emphasized Baylor’s desire to honor its Baptist heritage, identity and connections.

“The board of regents looks forward to bringing stability and clarity to the relationship” with the BGCT, he said.

If organizers have their way, Interstate 10 soon will be covered by more than cars from coast to coast.

A coalition of national Woman's Missionary Union, state WMU groups, anti-trafficking organizations, state Baptist conventions and churches are attempting to canvass the entire highway with prayer against human trafficking as well as for its victims.

The effort, dubbed, "10 at 10 for 10," encourages believers along the I-10 corridor to pray about human trafficking at 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. on the 10th of each month. The initiative will begin with a conference call Oct. 10.

The FBI has identified the I-10 corridor as the top path for trafficking in the nation, according to Tomi Grover, who leads the Texas Baptists-supported anti-trafficking organization TraffickStop. More of I-10 is located in Texas than any other state, and more than 1,100 Texas Baptist churches are within 10 miles of the interstate where trafficking takes place.

"Prayer is the hard work when it comes to ministry of any kind, but in the arena of human trafficking, we tread into the devil's territory, and we must pray for a God-sized solution to this massive problem," Grover said.

Carolyn Porterfield, Texas WMU multicultural specialist, said prayer is the first step in ministry. God works through prayer to guide people's thoughts, desires and actions to address an issue or particular situation. God can move people to resolve even the most complicated situations.

"Prayer is the first action needed in a strategy to address this evil," she said. "We must pray for God's heart in us to see what is in our midst. We need his direction to know how to engage to make a difference. With hearts shaped by God's compassion, we learn to pray for victims and their families. We must pray for those who serve in the judicial system and law enforcement. They are often understaffed and under re-sourced in this fight.

"This is a crime of economics. We must pray for those who demand a 'product' that is a human being. God can and will move on the hearts of those who buy and sell human beings as we pray. This cannot be a casual battle. The church cannot sit idly by while children, men and women are subjected to this degrading and devastating treatment."

This prayer initiative is one way WMU is attacking the trafficking issue. National WMU has launched Project HELP: Human Exploitation, which focuses on education and action items regarding various aspects of exploitation including trafficking. Texas WMU has been involved in that effort and this fall will take a mission trip to Honduras to minister to youth who are at risk to become trafficking victims.

TraffickStop and Texas WMU are supported by gifts to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missons.

Kay Bennett, director of the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans—an outreach that serves homeless women with children—recently prayer drove I-10 from Florida to New Orleans.

During the trip, each 18-wheeled truck became a possible hiding place for trafficking victims. Each rest stop was a potential place where trafficking victims would stop and hope for help. Every billboard became a possible location for anti-trafficking education efforts.

"As I traveled that, I guess I looked at it differently because I prayer drove it," she said.

For more information about the prayer effort, visit www.traffickstop.org/page/1010-for-i-10 or call Grover at 214-418-8318.

WACO—A public policy expert told community ministry leaders the keys to being affective advocates with lawmakers are to define the problems that need addressing, research the issues and build coalitions with others who care about the issue.

Frances Deviney, Texas Kids Count director at the Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin, spoke during a workshop at the No Need Among You conference in Waco.

Deviney offered five survival tips for "good-guy lobbyists," who represent ministries and other nonprofits:

• Have a good sense of humor.

• Wear "sensible shoes" because lobbying requires being active.

• Build one message, stick to it, and then "beat it like a drum."

• Understand the basics of the state lawmaking or local ordinance process.

• Celebrate even small successes.

"Legislators are people who have a lot going on," Deviney said. Rather than putting together long defenses of a position, compile a one-page summary with no more than three main points.

In making a case, "educate yourself" about the issue, present realistic solutions that are appealing for the times, and be strategic and practical, she said. Part of being strategic is knowing who will be opposing a position and seek to find common ground.

Relationships are critical to advocacy, Deviney said. "Bring in like-minded people," and "don't demonize the opponent."

—Ferrell Foster, Christian Life Commission

LA GRANGE—First Baptist Church in La Grange has hit a home run with hits baseball camp ministry in Germany.

Laura Mueller exemplifies that. She not only made a profession of faith in Christ through the ministry, but also now is serving the La Grange church as a children's ministry intern.

First Baptist Church in the Woodlandsbegan baseball camp ministry in 2007, and in 2008 four people from the La Grange church accompanied them to learn about it. The Woodlands church now has involved seven other churches in the ministry.

Laura Mueller, who made a profession of faith in Christ thanks in part to the ministry of First Baptist Church in LaGrange, began in July serving the church as its children's ministry intern, working with Pastor Jonathan Smith. (PHOTO/George Henson)

Mueller committed her life to Christ in 2008 while talking to some of the Texans after a camp meeting.

Pastor Jonathan Smith made his first trip to Germany in 2009, and he sensed something different about Mueller.

"Generally speaking, the people in Germany lack a certain joy that I see in even the average American, but what struck me in Laura's life was joy, joy, joy," Smith said.

"Laura also has great people skills—she can be as comfortable with a group of preschoolers as she can be with a group of senior adults."

When Mueller told Smith she was having trouble determining what to do after graduation, he mentioned the possibility she might travel to Texas. Mueller said she hadn't considered that possibility but began to pray about it.

"As I prayed, God really told me I should do that and use it as a journey to find out if children's ministry is how he wants to use my life," she recalled.

When she arrived in Texas July 3, "the first shock I had when I walked out of the airport was that it was so hot," she said.

When she returns to Germany in January, she will take new insights back with her.

"I've learned the importance of treating children as important because the children are the future of the church, and in Germany, that wasn't clear to me," Mueller said.

She also has learned to look more closely to see the individual needs of children, rather than seeing them as part of a group, she noted.

Training to work in children's ministry is unheard of in her region, Smith said.

"She could be the most trained children's minister in her region," he continued.

Mueller hopes to share her knowledge.

"I really hope I get more of an idea of how I can help children grow in faith and take back what I learned here and teach others what I have learned," she said.

While Mueller has gained new skills and knowledge to benefit her church in Germany, Smith said, she and Evangelisch Freikirchliche Gemeinde of Bunde also have made huge contributions to the La Grange church. This year, the German church came to Texas to minister here.

The volunteers from Germany conducted a soccer camp in Flatonia, helped First Baptist Church in La Grange with its Vacation Bible school and put on a cultural exchange night where the Texans could learn more about Germany.

"More than anything, we just strengthened our relationship that we have with them," Smith said.

"We are so connected at the heart with them that they are doing a dinner fundraiser so that they can … send money to people in the area who have been affected by the wildfires. It's a really strong partnership, and we have a really great friendship.

"Probably 100 people from our church are really good friends with 100 people from over there," Smith said. He speaks with someone from Germany almost daily, generally through a Skype connection.

"A lot of the models are, 'We're going to go and do mission work with you year after year after year," Smith said. "For us, a true partnership is more beneficial. They wanted to come, and we said, 'Come on.' And now, we'll probably flip-flop back and forth."

The people of La Grange noticed a deep faith and fellowship among the Germans.

"There's no cost for us to be Baptists; there's very little persecution. For our counterparts there, they use the word sect to talk about Baptists. The Baptists there are shunned," Smith said.

"Because of that, their fellowship is stronger. Their Christian fellowship is not in anyway surface level. When (a) church (service) is over there, the people stay for an hour or an hour and a half—just to be together. Here, we scatter to the four winds."

First Baptist La Grange is looking for another church it can teach how to lead baseball camp ministry in Germany. Only about half of the people who go have any real knowledge of the game, Smith noted.

"Last year, we sent a young lady who didn't even know that you hit the ball and run to first base. But she did know she could use the tool of baseball to share the gospel with kids," he said.

"We set up a very fun environment—it's as rah-rah and exciting as it can get.

"About half the people who go have a background in baseball, but we've had grandmas in their 70s go and be assistant coaches."

Mueller's growth illustrates what God can do when people invest in one another—an investment that goes both directions, Smith said.

"For me, I don't ever for the rest of my life want to be a part of a mission work where I go and do and come back and that's all. I want it to be a partnership. We pray for one another continually," he said.

"They have raised money for us, and we have raised money for them. Yes, it's mission work. But more than that, it's partnership work."

WACO—For many, the underpass where Interstate 35 crosses South 5th Street in Waco marks just another section of Texas asphalt. But to others, it represents a place of hope, healing and changed lives.

Church Under the Bridge has met each week in the same location nearly two decades. The church recently marked its 19th anniversary with a "Walk for the Homeless," a 1.4-mile educational prayerwalk intended to raise awareness about the struggles of the poor and homeless while engaging participants in volunteer opportunities.

The walk began at the Mission Waco Meyer Center for Urban Ministries, where home-less people received new shoes, and ended with Church Under the Bridge's anniversary worship service.

Relationships are central to the church, said Jimmy Dorrell, senior pastor and executive director of Mission Waco. He described people crossing racial, economic and denominational barriers "to learn to care for each other."

The common misconception is that Church Under the Bridge is "for the poor," Dorrell noted. It is so much more than that, he emphasized.

Julie Breeding shares her testimony of salvation and overcoming addiction during Church Under the Bridge\'s anniversary service.  (PHOTOS/Grace Gaddy)

"I need the poor as much as they need me. It's this sense of collaboration that says we need each other," he said.

And that equates to an interconnected body of believers who come together for one purpose—just to "do church," Dorrell said.

"When I look out on Sunday mornings, I see this incredible mix of diversity—black, white and brown folks, Baylor kids sitting next to homeless people. It is a heaven thing for me. This is what the kingdom of God is about."

Dorrell remembered the day it all began.

"We were at (a fast-food Mexican restaurant) … and realized that the homeless guys were literally sleeping under the bridge where we are now because they didn't have a shelter at that point," he said. "So we said, 'Let's go meet them.'"

Dorrell bought the men breakfast and "took the role of the student," he said.

"We don't know much about homelessness," he told them. "Teach us."

Fred Cantu (right) tries on a new pair of shoes during a special segment of Mission Waco\'s Walk for the Homeless known as "Shoes for the Homeless." (PHOTOS/Grace Gaddy)

That conversation ended with an invitation to do the same thing a week later, and more men returned. As relationships blossomed, someone suggested they hold a Bible study where they lived—under the bridge.

"We went over, and five folks showed up," Dorrell recalled.

As five turned into seven and then a dozen, Baylor students across the street joined to help, and the church has been going ever since, he said.

Looking back, the years have been filled with memorable events such as weddings, burials, church talent shows and mission trips. The church runs about 300 in attendance on an average Sunday—about 40 percent poor and 60 percent middle class, Dorrell said.

Small groups and Bible studies assemble throughout the week, including a recovery group for people struggling with addictions that meets an hour before the service. Most of these individuals would not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting, but Church Under the Bridge has no walls to keep them in or out, Dorrell said. Volunteers serve a hot meal around 10:30 a.m., and worship starts around 10:45 a.m.

"We'll feed you, and if you don't want to stay, that's fine. Take off," Dorrell said.

But he watches as participants come closer each time, as was the case with Julie Breeding.

"When I first started coming out, I'd sit on the outside," she told listeners during the anniversary service. Because of her addiction to crack cocaine, she was hesitant to talk to anyone. But in time, she moved closer and made friends.

"Nobody said anything about me being an addict," she said. "I'd hear the testimony of what this church had done and how you weren't ever judged here. You weren't judged for your color or your addiction or your job. You were just you, and God was here with you. And God was going to help you if you let him," she said.

Breeding became a follower of Christ and has not looked back.

"That was three years ago on July 5, and I've been clean ever since," she said. "And I am a firm believer if it was not for this church underneath this bridge, this pastor and the people who come here, I would either be dead or in jail, because those are the only options."

WACO—Milton Friedman, meet Rick Warren. Americans who strongly believe God has a plan for their lives are most likely to believe God guides the United States through a free market—and they want to see the government get out of God's way.

That's one of the latest findings from the Baylor Religion Survey, an ongoing study of values and beliefs of the American public, released Sept. 20. Baylor University researchers based their analysis on a random sample of 1,714 adults surveyed by the Gallup Organization during fall 2010.

The survey showed a clear link between economic conservatism and belief in a God who is engaged in human affairs, said researcher Paul Froese, associate professor of sociology at Baylor University.

He compared it to a wedding of the philosophies of free-market economist Friedman and evangelical pastor Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life.

"The invisible hand (of the free market) spoken of by (18th century economic philosopher) Adam Smith has become God's hand for many Americans," Froese said.

Ironically, the survey revealed Americans who most strongly believe in God's plan for their lives earn less and have less education, but they are most likely to believe in the fairness of the United States' economic system and be opposed to government intervention.

Specifically, Americans who strongly believe in God's plan are more likely to believe government is intrusive (53 percent), able-bodied people don't deserve unemployment benefits (53 percent) and "anything is possible for those who work hard" (54 percent).

The study also revealed a close relationship between work and worship for a significant minority of Americans.

About one-fourth of working adults (25 percent) report they often or always see their work as a mission from God, and more than one-third (36 percent) regularly pursue excellence in their work because their faith motivates them to do so.

For the most part, entrepreneurs generally look like people who are not entrepreneurs in regard to belief in God, view of the Bible, religious affiliation, worship attendance and frequency of reading scriptures. One characteristic sets them apart. A higher percentage of entrepreneurs pray several times a day (34 percent) or practice meditation (32 percent).

Christians affiliated with an African-American Protestant congregation are most likely to receive encouragement in their churches to start a business or make a profit. Forty-two percent of Black Protestants report their churches encourage worshippers to start businesses, compared to 17 percent of Catholics and 15 percent of evangelicals or mainline Protestants.

People who attend churches of 2,000 or more worshippers are twice as likely as people in smaller congregations to report they are encouraged at church to start a business.

The Baylor Religion Survey also provided findings related to:

• Mental health.

Researchers found Americans who believe in an active and engaged God who loves them and is responsive to their needs report significantly fewer mental health issues.

On the other hand, respondents who believe in a judgmental God who is critical, punishing and angered by sin report 45 percent more concerns related to social anxiety, 37 percent more concerns related to paranoia and 33 percent more concerns related to compulsions.

The study found chronic worriers are less likely than non-worriers to attend religious services regularly, read religious texts, consider themselves religious or have a religious affiliation.

• Afterlife.

More than six of 10 Americans (62 percent) say they "absolutely" believe in heaven, but barely half (51 percent) have that same degree of certainty about hell.

Confidence is greatest among Americans who attend religious services at least once a week—93 percent who believe in heaven and 85 percent who believe in hell—and among those who accept a literal view of the Bible—98 percent who believe in heaven and 92 percent who believe in hell.

A higher percentage of African-Americans believe in heaven (78 percent) and hell (67 percent) than do Anglos and Hispanics.

The survey also revealed Americans who absolutely believe in heaven and hell are more satisfied with their jobs and more likely to pursue excellence in work.

• Homosexuality.

Americans make a clear distinction between withholding opportunities from gays and lesbians and granting them rights. More than 89 percent of Americans agree or strongly agree gays and lesbians should have equal employment opportunities, but they are significantly more divided on same-sex marriage.

Support for same-sex marriage is greatest among the religiously unaffiliated (88 percent) and lowest among evangelical Protestants (37 percent). Similarly, the religiously unaffiliated are most supportive of same-sex civil unions (92 percent) and adoption by same-sex couples (80 percent).

However, same-sex civil unions also drew support of 64 percent of Catholics, 61 percent of mainline Protestants, 59 percent of evangelical Protestants and 52 percent of African-American Protestants.

Less than half of Americans (41 percent) believe homosexuality is a choice, and more than half (57 percent) believe it is genetic in origin.

The survey found Americans who believe homosexuality is a choice are much more likely to label it "always wrong" (76 percent), and people who think genetics determines sexual orientation are far more likely to consider homosexuality "not wrong at all" (56 percent).

Three-fourths of the self-described religiously unaffiliated view sexual orientation as genetic in origin, compared to only 15 percent of the unaffiliated who see homosexuality as a choice.

More than three-fourths (78 percent) of those who see homosexuality as a choice disagree or strongly disagree with same-sex marriage. In comparison, two-thirds (67 percent) of those who believe genetics determines homosexuality agree or strongly agree with same-sex marriage.

PAIGE—When wildfires swept through the Bastrop area, Timberline Fellowship lost its office supplies, pastor's library and lawn equipment when two small mobile buildings burned.

Some of the siding on its Sunday school building and sanctuary also melted, and smoke damaged the parsonage and church buildings.

Still, the church serves people who lost their homes as a result of the wildfires.

The congregation, initially buoyed by a Texas Baptist Men feeding unit, provides meals for about 15 to 20 people a day.

Using TBM shower and laundry units at the church, area residents can shower and do their laundry for free.

The congregation rented a small tractor and is helping people clean off their lots. The church also is distributing clothes.

Pastor Gordon Friday estimates 500 homes were destroyed within two miles of the church. Of the 34 households that are part of Timberline Fellowship, 16 lost their homes and everything in them.

The area was evacuated for nine days. Friday is thankful every member of the congregation survived.

"All church members came out safe," he said. "That's all I care about. Everything else can be replaced sooner or later."

In the wake of the fires, the congregation gave away much of its money, draining its account from $3,000 to $400.

Friday admitted he was worried about the church running low on funds, but he quickly saw God bless the church financially. A woman driving from Austin to College Station stopped at the church and asked to speak to someone. After visiting briefly with Friday, she wrote a check for $2,000.

"A total stranger drove by and saw the need, and God moved her to replenish our treasury."

The Baptist General Convention of Texas is in the process of providing the congregation a $5,000 disaster relief grant and another $1,000 to replace Friday's library.

Friday thanks Texas Baptists for praying for Timberline Fellowship and asks them specifically to pray for people with evangelistic zeal who could help minister to people in the wake of the wildfires.

Area residents are seeking answers and are open to conversations about God, Friday said. Now, he hopes Christians will share the hope of Christ with these families.

ETBU expands relationship with Chinese college. Officials from East Texas Baptist University and Guandong Teachers College of Foreign Language and Arts of Guangzhou, China, recently signed agreements that will continue and expand a 20-year relationship between the two schools. The agreement allows professors and students from both schools to exchange campuses for a semester or longer. Li Qusheng, party secretary of the Guandong Teachers College and chief executive official of the school system, signed the agreement along with ETBU President Dub Oliver.

Orosco to address TBC Event. Ellis Orosco, pastor of First Baptist Church in Richardson, will speak at the Texas Baptists Committed breakfast, scheduled in conjunction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Amarillo. The breakfast will be at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 25 in the Amarillo Civic Center and will conclude by 8 a.m., in time for participants to join in "Igniting Hope in the Community" ministry and service projects.

BCFS receives healthcare grant for colonias. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission awarded Baptist Child & Family Services a $150,000 grant to increase access to and improve the quality of health and medical care for more than 1,400 families living in Webb and Zapata County colonias. The grant is for one year with the possibility of extension. The BCFS health initiative will improve access to immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, dental health, and disease management programs, and it will include educational programs in nutrition and health. The initiative expands BCFS community-based programs that provide mobile community-based medical care and case management services to colonia residents.

South Texas School, HSU provide undergraduate classes. The South Texas School of Christian Studies in Corpus Christi is offering classes leading to a bachelor's degree through a partnership with Hardin-Simmons University. Through Hardin-Simmons, the South Texas School of Christian Studies offers three undergraduate degree programs—a bachelor of arts in religion, a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and a bachelor of behavioral science in ministry. Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon Seminary already offered graduate-level theological classes through the school.

Baylor prof receives NEH grant. Sarah-Jane Murray, associate professor in the Great Texts program in the Honors College at Baylor University and resident scholar at Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion, has received a $210,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to translate the Ovide moralisé from Old French into English. An anonymous Franciscan friar composed the Ovide moralisé—14th century French interpretation of an epic poem by the Roman writer Ovid—to guide Christian readers on a redemptive quest.