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Texas
Baptists Focus on the Future Historical
decisions creating significant change were made by Texas Baptists
in their annual convention in Corpus Christi, Oct. 30-31, 2000.
The choices mark a continuing effort to focus on Jesus Christ
and to identify their role in spreading God's Kingdom. Texas
Baptists approved a report from the Seminary Study Committee which
recommended changes in how Texas Baptists financially support
theological education. Messengers also approved a new budget which
changed the allocation of funds as recommended by the Seminary
Study Committee, defunded the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics
and Religious Liberty Commission and drastically reduced funds
to the SBC Executive Committee. Details are on page 14. Southern
Baptist Convention leaders viciously attacked BGCT leaders for
the recommended budget changes claiming they were punitive in
nature and designed to hurt the SBC and its institutions. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Texas
Baptists have no interest in hurting the SBC. They are now and
have always been deeply committed to being effective partners
with God in spreading His kingdom. Providing
money for traditional theological education which is historically
consistent with Baptist principles is not punitive but good stewardship.
Supporting Hispanic ministries, adoption services and traditional
Baptists efforts to undergird religious liberty is not punitive,
but God-honoring. Baptists
are at a time when difficult choices have to be made. Usually
these choices do not please everyone. Our great country has just
been through a difficult and dividing experience in the election
of our president. Will our country unite? I personally believe
we will, at least to some extent. More than anything, unity will
depend on the winning side of the choice that was made. If
they are fair, reach out to the opposing side and seek to find
common ground, unity will probably be the result. Texas
Baptists cannot reunite with the SBC because we are on the losing
side of that battle. The SBC must reach out to us. But Texas Baptists
can reach out to the losing side in our recent budget vote and
are already doing so. Hopefully unity can be the result of our
action. How
are Texas Baptists reaching out to SBC loyalists within the BGCT?
First, they have pledged to honor the giving wishes of any BGCT-related
church. Second, they have not sought to ostracize any BGCT church.
Third, they will continue to include SBC loyalists who also support
the BGCT in important leadership positions. Fourth, BGCT leaders
and TBC leaders can guard our rhetoric about those who disagree
with us (without allowing lies to go unchallenged). I
hope and pray the result will be unity among Texas Baptists. In
the future, elections will be held in America and in Texas Baptists'
life. The issues will be argued strongly and with emotion. One
side will win. After the election, the important thing will be
the way the losing side is treated. I think Texas Baptists have
a wonderful record of fairness to minority viewpoints. I never
expect that to change.
January 2001 |