Texas Baptists Committed - A Rancher's Rumblings, February 26, 2008

Recently I have heard some people expressing that the BGCT does not really welcome all churches to participate in the life of the convention, especially on important boards and committees. Some seem to even think that I am one of persons who sort of “black-balls” certain churches because they do not support TBC or CBF.

I am honestly disturbed that persons might think such a thing and was actually surprised at the criticism. Over 1,000 people serve on the 27 boards and commissions that relate to the BCCT. One of the main reasons TBC worked so hard to defeat a fundamentalist takeover of the BGCT was so that our ministries and institutions could be free from control.

The thought that we were not inclusive of all churches struck me as very wrong from my experience so I thought I would examine a few institutions. Remembering Billy Ray Parmer’s admonition that perception is reality too often, I thought I should examine reality (besides that, I wanted to know myself).

I serve on the Howard Payne University and to be honest, really had no idea what churches my fellow board members attended. What I found was HPU has board members from the following churches:

First Baptist, Brownwood, (4 members); Hyde Park, Austin (2 members); University, Fort Worth (2 members)’; and one member from the following churches: Tallowood, Houston; Genesis, Fort Worth; Southland, San Angelo (me); First Baptist, Sulphur Springs; Coggin Avenue, Brownwood; First Baptist, Henderson; First Baptist, Coleman; First Baptist, Mt. Vernon; First Baptist, Houston; Second Baptist, Houston; First Baptist, Weatherford; Friendship, Fairview; Green Acres, Tyler; Memorial Drive, Houston; First Baptist, Arlington; First Baptist, Canyon; First Baptist, San Saba; First Baptist, Wichita Falls; First Baptist, Richardson; First Baptist, Salado; First Baptist, Universal City; Pioneer Drive, Abilene; Crescent Heights, Abilene; Lakeside, Granbury; First Baptist, Grapevine; Westside, Lewisville; and First Baptist, San Antonio.

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Now I do not have a list of churches that contribute to CBF, but I do not think many of the above churches do so, and if they did, I do not understand what difference it would make as long as they supported Texas Baptists. But I can certainly identify several churches that have strong Pro-SBC pastors.

I thought I should look at another school so randomly picked Mary Hardin-Baylor. This is what I found: First Baptist, Belton (5 members); First Baptist, Temple (4 members); First Baptist, Woodway (2 members); Second Baptist, Houston (2 members); Prestonwood Baptist, Dallas (2 members); Taylor’s Valley, Temple (2);First Baptist, Salado (2 members); and one member from the following churches: New Hope Missionary, Dickinson; Calvary McAllen; Medical Center, San Antonio; Meadowbrook, Rockdale; Great Hills, Austin; First Baptist, Falfurrias; Green Acres, Tyler; Oakwood, Belton; Oak Ridge, San Antonio; First Baptist, Rosebud; First Baptist, Navasota; First Baptist, Beeville, Macedonia Missionary, Temple; First Baptist, Marble Falls; First Baptist, Killeen; First Baptist, Normangee; First Baptist, Grand Prairie; First Baptist, Boerne; Cowboy Church, Mound; Memorial, Temple; Comfort Baptist, Comfort; First Baptist, Hewitt; Hampton Road, Desoto; and First Baptist, Waco.

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Now, again, I have no real idea where these churches send their mission money but I bet it is pretty representative of Texas Baptists as a whole and I recognize several dually aligned churches (relate to both the BGCT and SBTC).

Now it probably true that several members from dually aligned churches were appointed by the boards themselves since the BGCT voted to allow our institutions to appoint 25% of their board members themselves, but that is still significant. Rather than try to control the entire board process, the BGCT voluntarily agreed to allow this change. Do you honestly think this would happen in fundamentalist controlled state conventions such as Missouri, Georgia or Louisiana, where strong tactics have been used to control educational institutions?

I am going to examine this further in future articles, but I think if one will set aside their perceptions and look at reality, one will find the BGCT is very inclusive of all Texas Baptists. In fact, I will have to count to be sure, but just quickly looking over the board members it appears Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas (or Plano as it is listed sometimes) may have more board members than any other church in Texas (or certainly near the top in the number of members on BGCT boards). I guess if one was going by perception, this might indicate Jack Graham and I are best buds. Of course, in reality, I do not think we have ever met.