BGCT committee endorses world missions network proposal

Texas Baptists are considering the creation of a world missions network designed to help churches and missionaries across the United States and around the world.

The committee worked through four subcommittees— one devoted to networking initiatives, and the others related to the North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions.

The networking initiatives subcommittee, which proposed the world missions network, sponsored “listening sessions” that drew more than 1,000 people from about 250 churches to 15 sites around Texas.

In the listening sessions, as well as in interviews with pastors who directly addressed meetings of the subcommittee, Texas Baptists told about what they already are doing in missions.

“Churches want the BGCT to provide vision and support,” the committee concluded, in its findings. “Participants in listening sessions indicated they want the BGCT to offer resources such as a database of needs and opportunities, strategy planning, cultural training and field assistance.”

Growing out of that discovery, the committee recommended:

• That a world missions network be established to help churches, associations, institutions and individuals fulfill their missions calling through both short-term and long-term missions endeavors across the United States and the world.

• That this world missions network connect churches, associations, institutions and individuals to available missions research, education, information, facilitation, training, screening, strategy development and support.

• That this world missions network, like other existing Texas Baptist entities, be established as a not-for-profit [501(c)(3)] affiliate of the Baptist General Convention of Texas with a permanent, strong connection to the BGCT, and that the director of the network serve on the BGCT Leadership Council.

• That this world missions network be governed by a 32-member rotating board, all of whom are Baptists; and that the BGCT elect through the Committee on Nominations for Institution Boards three-fourths of the board members and the board choose one-fourth

. • That the initial board of this world missions network be chosen by the president of the convention, the chair of the BGCT Executive Board, the chair of the Administrative Committee, the chair of the Missions Review and Initiatives Committee, the president of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, the president of Texas Baptist Men and the executive director of the BGCT.

• That this world missions network establish an advisory council to bring together missions experts and representatives of Baptist conventions from across the world on a regular basis to work on further missions endeavors, and that the executive directors of the BGCT, Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas and Texas Baptist Men serve on the advisory council.

Regarding the way in which the network will work with missions agencies, Glazener said, “Anybody who wants to come to the table can do so, but they can’t set the menu for everyone else.”

The proposed network would be set up as a separate not-for-profit affiliate of the BGCT, rather than part of the existing state convention Executive Board staff organization to maintain close ties, but also provide the ability for rapid response.

“This status creates a close working relationship with the BGCT while providing the ability to respond quickly and effectively to rapidly developing global situations. The not-for-profit status enables the network to be recognized as a non-governmental organization (NGO), which in some countries allows broader access and acceptance,” the report stated.

The recommendation concerning the network’s governing board would place it in a position similar to institutions affiliated with the BGCT, if the state convention approves constitutional changes concerning trustee selection. The amendments, to be considered at both the 2002 and 2003 state conventions at the recommendation of BGCT coordinating boards for institutional ministries, would allow institutions to elect one-fourth of their trustees, with the BGCT electing the remaining three-fourths.

In addition to the new initiatives, the committee report also examined the BGCT relationship with existing missions sending agencies and offered a series of recommendations.

The Administrative Committee was responsible for acting only on recommendations regarding the world missions network, since those recommendations related to administrative and budgetary issues. Other recommendations of the Missions Review and Initiatives Committee will go directly to the BGCT Executive Board.

The Missions Review and Initiatives Committee is recommending that the BGCT:

• Affirm all Baptist missionaries and express gratitude for their commitment to follow God’s call upon their lives and appreciation for their service.

• Encourage Texas Baptist congregations and pastors to educate and nurture a vision of missions and the call to career missions.

• Continue to offer help in the transition of Southern Baptist missionaries who cannot, in good conscience, affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith … Message.

• Find ways to enable missionaries to serve who cannot, in good conscience, affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith … Message.

• Seek fraternal relations with Baptist conventions and unions in other countries for mutual growth and the extension of the Kingdom of God.

• Continue to work on specific missions projects with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, without entering into a formal relationship.

• Adopt the 2002 Cooperative Agreement between the North American Mission Board and the BGCT.

• Call on Texas Baptist churches to pray for the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and “its valiant efforts to win people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and minister to the needs of those who live in the nation’s capitol.”

• Urge the North American Mission Board to reconsider its action regarding the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and that NAMB take strategic action that will enable it to work with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention in ways that will advance the cause of Christ.

• Encourage churches to express their obedience to the Great Commission through prayer, sacrificial giving and active participation in missions.

The report cited specific concerns about the way the Southern Baptist mission boards are using the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message. Missionaries appointed by the International Mission Board and fully funded missionaries of the North American Mission Board are required to affirm the statement of faith as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.

The report also cited concerns about the International Mission Board’s “new directions” policy, which the committee concluded has undermined the relationship between missionaries and national Baptists in the countries where they serve.

In its report, the committee also noted concern regarding North American Mission Board policy decisions denying endorsement to ordained female chaplains and terminating the NAMB cooperative agreement with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention.

But the committee expressed its desire not to focus primarily on what other Baptists are doing. Instead, the committee stated its goal of focusing on the future.

“This report calls Texas Baptists to move forward,” Glazener told the Administrative Committee, reading from his committee’s report.

“Texas Baptists want to find way for their churches to touch people wherever there is a need they can meet. The proposed initiatives can help to link the missions passion and energy of Texas Baptists with the urgent needs of a spiritually hungry world

“Now is the time for the Baptist General Convention of Texas to take a bold step forward. Now is the time to build bridges between Texas Baptist churches and missional Baptists throughout the United States and the world.”

September 2002