The Baptist General Convention of Texas, its elected leaders, and its program staff in the Baptist building are doing a wonderful job in helping Texas Baptists do mission and ministry. At Texas Baptists Committed, we urge all Texas Baptist churches to support the BGCT budget as adopted at the convention.

It is often interesting how many people do not seem to understand Baptist polity and believe the Cooperative Missions vote was about Texas missions. It was not.

A recent “Letter to the Editor” in our local paper stated that I was wrong that this vote was “a victory for Texas Baptist and foreign missions.” He added that I obviously didn’t “know anything about the great work the Texas Baptist Convention is doing in missions,” and that my “statements are an indictment against Dr. Bill Pinson, Dr. James Semple and other convention leaders.”

Friends, I know full well the great work being done by the BGCT. WE EXIST TO PROTECT THAT GREAT WORK FROM A FUNDAMENTALIST TAKEOVER! Our reason to be is to encourage Texas Baptists to not follow the divisive path of fundamentalism taken by the Southern Baptist Convention. Allow our leaders the freedom to lead. Allow our professors the freedom to teach. Allow our physicians the freedom to heal. Our mission statement is about supporting the BGCT and its related institutions and programs!

The Cooperative Missions Study Committee Report vote was a vote about fairness for all Texas Baptists churches in their giving. It was about funds sent outside Texas.

(continued)

We supported the Report because it created fairness for all Texas Baptist churches in relation to their giving beyond the BGCT those who appreciate the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC, and those who do not.

Since some of the fundamentalist do not like the fact that Texas is refusing to follow the SBC path, they dislike some of the BGCT programs. In order to be fair, the report had to allow them the same freedom to give around the BGCT and not be treated like “second class” citizens.

As Texas Baptists we could not support anything that tried to force fundamentalists in Texas to support the BGCT budget. That would be as wrong as the SBC, which is trying to force local churches to support their budget. The SBC is saying give a certain way or get out. As Texas Baptists, we must never have that attitude.

We support the BGCT and encourage every Texas Baptist church to support the BGCT budget. Sure some things are not perfect (an Evangelism Conference this year with nearly all fundamentalist speakers quickly comes to mind), but we can work with our leaders in good faith and support them.

Support the BGCT because it is staying true to our Baptist heritage and principles. Beyond Texas, support your convictions. We will respect those choices.

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