Texas Baptists Committed is dedicated to reaching people for Christ through local churches; promoting and defending historic Baptist principles; spreading an understanding of Baptist heritage and distinctives through education; and cooperating with the mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its related institutions.

HELPS FOR DESIGNING YOUR CHURCH’S BUDGET

In an interesting news story after the BGCT annual meeting, Rev. Lyle Schaller, who has researched and written many books relating to church and denominational life, had the following observation:

“These developments among Southern Baptists… offer an extraordinarily significant lesson for all church leaders. Denominationalism may have peaked in the 1950s, but it was really a product of l9th-century America. What we are seeing is the end of an age… National structures of all kinds are in decline. People will have to accept that.”

The article also stated: “Times have changed. The Southern Baptist moderates will never be able to reclaim the past and the conservatives will never be able to lock up the future.”

It seems to us that we need to focus on mutual respect and reach a peaceful coexistence.

We do not advocate what any Texas Baptist churches should support. We do suggest that all churches take control of their own budgets. We urge you to consider option 3 in the Cooperative Missions Giving Study Committee recommendations. This allows you to support Texas and what you choose to support beyond Texas. It reads:

Gifts to the adopted budget of the BGCT and other worldwide Baptist missions and ministries.

We do have an opinion on some matters. We believe that only churches who support the Fundamentalist takeover of the SBC should send undesignated money to the SBC Executive Committee. It seems like spiritual schizophrenia to vote against fundamentalism in Texas and then blindly support it on the SBC level.

(continued)

What we need is informed, educated churches across the spectrum. We urge churches to write the SBC Executive Committee or any agency related to the SBC and ask good questions. Do the same with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We are printing the addresses of both in this newsletter.

We are also printing the budgets of both organizations. Pick and choose. Do not forget that there are causes you may want to support that are not in any budget. An example is the new seminary opening at Hardin-Simmons which is not in the BGCT, SBC, or CBF budget.

Another option is designating additional funds to BGCT causes you support such as the Hispanic Theological Seminary in San Antonio, the River Ministry, or the Christian Life Commission.

We are also printing a Design Your Own Budget form on page 9.

Whatever your church decides to do, remember to respect those within your congregation with differing views. Allow persons to give around the approved budget to causes they support that are not included in the budget. You may have some persons who want all their money to go to the SBC or CBF. Respect those choices. Above all, be fair to everyone.

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