Global Vision Financially Accountable to BGCT Churches
Bill Shiell,
Pastor, Southland Baptist Church, San Angelo, Texas

How often do church members check to see how their church spends money? Most church members evaluate expenditures annually through the budget process.

It has been 75 years since any state convention on behalf of her churches has investigated how the SBC spends money BGCT churches entrust to it.

The seminary study committee was formed to ensure that seminaries we support are using God’s resources in a way that will reflect the priorities of Texas Baptists.

We found, however, a flagrant disregard for the concerns of Texas churches among the SBC seminaries and a desperate financial need among Truett, Logsdon, and the Hispanic Baptist Theological School.

Need for Committee

Texas Baptist students comprise more than half of 7,500 ministerial students in Baptist colleges across the nation.

In BGCT affiliated schools, more than 3,600 students are planning to enter vocational ministry. Texas students need quality theological education and Texas churches want to support them in their efforts.

BGCT churches have been faithful supporters of theological education for years. According to the 1999 SBC budget, our churches provided more than $4.9 million to SBC seminaries, which amounted to 20% of the total Cooperative Program budget for these seminaries.

We have a right and a responsibility to question these seminaries so that our churches might be better informed.

Committee Recommendations

The committee hoped to find a system in place among our seminaries that would reflect the priorities of BGCT churches.

What broke our hearts was the use of funds for undergraduate programs for which most BGCT churches would not approve and which are in competition with our own undergraduate colleges.

For example, New Orleans Seminary’s catalog notes that each student in its baccalaureate program receives $4,700 each year to offset his or her tuition. Consider that from 1993-1998, New Orleans reports that their annual enrollment in this program has averaged 262 students.

That means since 1993, Texas Baptist churches have contributed a combined estimated over $1.2 million to a baccalaureate program that competes against the eight Baptist colleges and universities affiliated with the BGCT and the 40 other Baptist colleges and universities across the nation.

New Orleans appears to be expanding this program. This year, the seminary is offering on-line undergraduate courses and supplementing tuition with Cooperative Program funds for these courses as well. Space does not permit to provide the same analysis on Southeastern Baptist Theological College or Southern Seminary’s Boyce Bible School.

Logsdon, Truett and our Hispanic school have great financial needs. These new institutions are much like young saplings needing plenty of water, care and nutrients. Up to this time, for every $1 given to BGCT seminaries, Southern Baptist seminaries have received $14.

This assistance has been hardly enough to keep up with the demand for theological education. Logsdon has tried to provide tuition assistance for her students but has been unable to promote her work effectively because of the lack of resources.

Truett’s enrollment and tuition continue to increase so that many students find themselves under a burden of enormous debt when they graduate. The mushrooming Hispanic population indicates that Texas Baptists need to channel as many resources as possible to meet their needs. Our recommendations are Baptist in the best sense of the word. We have affirmed the priesthood of every believer to allow her to choose the SBC or BGCT seminary of choice.

The recommendation calls for Texas churches to continue to assist students from Texas who are attending SBC seminaries. None of the recommendations reduces money for missions.

We also are recommending that we redirect our resources to reflect the priorities of Texas Baptists. By giving more than $4 million to these schools, we open the borders of Texas to say, “Any Baptist from anywhere may come and receive a quality, Baptist theological education in our seminaries and be supported by Texas Baptists.”

Accountability

These schools desire to be accountable to BGCT churches. They have a Jesus-sized understanding of world needs and a global vision to attract students and commission them to go everywhere the gospel can reach.

As a Floridian, I would not have had a home in theological education without the support of BGCT churches. Neither would my colleagues, Phoebe, Rachel and Lance.

Phoebe Wabara came to Truett from war-torn Rwanda to study for the ministry. She remains in Texas, pursuing further graduate work in theology.

Rachel Stephen is a Texan, most recently from Sonora. Following her graduation from Truett, she began serving in the Czech Republic as a missionary.

Lance Freeman is a Texan and following graduation from Truett, became pastor of First Baptist in Refugio.

We are just four products of the global vision of Texas Baptists. Our committee saw beyond the borders of Texas and to the hearts of the lost in our world. By adopting these recommendations and supporting them through our churches, we will be able to touch the world in exciting ways that will always be accountable to Texas Baptists.

October 2000