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Funding
Changes Will Meet Needs Editor's note: excerpts from article printed in The Baptist Standard. Institutions that will benefit if the Baptist General Convention of Texas reallocates millions of dollars away from the Southern Baptist Convention expressed gratitude for the additional financial support and described needs for even more money. "Certainly this is significant," noted Keith Bruce, director of the BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board and interim director of the BGCT Human Welfare Coordinating Board. "I hope it means a renewed vision and commitment we have for our opportunity to impact not only the state but also the world." If additional funds are provided for theological education, they will be well spent, Bruce said. "Truett and Logsdon are seminaries that are experiencing tremendous growth," he said. Texas Baptist theological education is vital for the larger Baptist enterprise, Bruce added, noting half of all Southern Baptist ministerial students are enrolled in BGCT-affiliated universities. "We have a responsibility to provide theological education," he said, citing an additional focus on non-degree ministerial training. "And with our changing culture, Hispanic Baptist Theological School and its multi-cultural focus is tremendously important for our state and really our nation." Increased funding for human welfare will mean supporting much-needed ministries, he added. Through their human welfare institutions, Texas Baptists also have a global impact, he said, pointing to Buckner Baptist Benevolences' ministries in Russia and Romania and Baptist Child & Family Services' ministries in Mexico and Moldova. Increased funding is needed desperately, stressed Kevin Dinnin, president of Baptist Child & Family Services. "The human welfare agencies each day are faced with the reality of more people coming to us than we have resources to serve," Dinnin said. He estimated his agency can only serve one in five referrals. Dinnin affirmed the decision to provide additional funds to Texas Baptist ministries. "We're very supportive of the convention leadership and their sensitivity to reallocate those funds," he explained. "When I look at these funds reallocated to agencies like ours, I see it will spread the gospel and provide resources to meet basic human needs." He also urged churches that are thinking about leaving the BGCT because of the funding decision to reconsider. "Churches that are pulling out of the convention are to a great degree abandoning children on the streets," he said. If they curtail funds to BGCT human welfare agencies, "they are stopping ministries to homeless families, women and children," he added. "I'm convinced the majority of people in the pews do not realize that." Ken Hall, president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences, expressed both appreciation and disappointment regarding the funding allocated to his agency. "I love the Baptists of Texas and believe that they want to care for the hurting masses of our great state," Hall said. "Buckner is immensely grateful for the support we receive from Texas Baptist churches." Still, he is "disappointed that the Administrative Committee didn't make funding of human welfare agencies a higher priority," Hall added. "My heart continues to break for the children, pregnant teens and older adults we are unable to serve because funds are not available. "If the Baptists of our great state don't touch these lives in Jesus' name, who will?" The decision to allocate funds to Hispanic Baptist Theological School and to Hispanic ministry statewide is "wise stewardship," said Albert Reyes, the school's president. Increased funding will impact the school by helping it achieve accreditation and certification, toward which it already is progressing, he said.
October 2000 |