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To my TBC friends, It has been a great five years! Five years ago this month I moved to San Angelo, beginning my work with Texas Baptists Committed. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with David Currie, Charlotte Caffey and some of the finest Baptist leaders in the country. The pastors are the best and the lay people I have worked with are generous, intelligent and full of Christ like conviction. This has been an honor to come to know so many of you as we work together for good to build the kingdom of God. As my last staff article I want to share a few observations. What does it mean when conservative/moderates have passed almost all recommendations at the BGCT by a 3-to-1, and this year a 4-to-1 margin? It means not only do the changes need to be implemented by the BGCT, we must provide leadership in our churches to help them be better stewards. We have a lot of educating to do. It means we must learn from the fundamentalist leaders of the SBC, how NOT to treat those who lose the votes. As conservative/moderates we are not immune to some of the characteristics found in an unhealthy faith system (see article on page 6). It means our leaders must continue to be magnanimous. Texas Baptist institutions play such an important role in kingdom work. Greatness in the future may yet be measured by how leaders of an institution will not only seek what is best for themselves, but for their sister institutions as well. This also means we Texans must think bigger than Texas as so many Baptists in other states identify with our historic Baptist distinctives. In
the next five years I hope to see our commitment to Hispanic work
continue to make significant strides in education and shared leadership.
Women, young leaders and non-pastoral staff (like my Dad before
he became the BGCT State Missions Director) must also be given
greater opportunities for service. The
workload at TBC has increased dramatically. We have implemented
a new data base system, so be patient with the staff as changes
are made for the better. We have more requests than ever before
for help from churches, pastors and laypeople. TBC is vitally
needed, not only for Texas but for the Baptist witness across
America. I
am grateful to the people of Western Hills Baptist Church, Fort
Worth, for extending a call for me to be their pastor. It takes
courage and grace to call a person who is divorced and single.
I have been the custodial parent of two daughters since they were
12 and 15 years of age. Both are now attending and loving Howard
Payne University, my alma mater. San Angelo has been a great place
for their mother and me to be active in their lives. I look forward to continuing my relationship with TBC supporters as one of you! Charles
C. McLaughlin
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