I write this Rumblings from Fort Worth on Monday evening, following the first day of the Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Gathering with Texas Baptists at the BGCT Annual Meeting
Today the BGCT approved a budget of over $45 million. Although this is smaller than our budget once was, it is still significant. We continue to support many institutions and ministries, and we are especially working hard to start new churches. The BGCT is a positive part of God’s Kingdom. I understand that there is frustration with any bureaucracy, including the local church. However, I do not understand the anger that some have expressed toward our state convention, which has wonderful servants of God working hard to help churches, ministries, and institutions reach people for Christ and help people grow in Christ.
We have elected three new BGCT officers for the coming year. David Lowrie will serve as president; Carolyn Strickland as first vice president; and Bobby Broyles as second vice president. These are three good persons who represent the diversity of Texas Baptists.
David is pastor of First Baptist, Canyon, a strong missions-minded church that supports missions both financially and through members who are scattered across the world sharing Christ. FBC Canyon works closely with the Southern Baptist Convention in missions.
Carolyn is a member of Wilshire Baptist, Dallas, a large urban congregation that works closely with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in missions.
Bobby is pastor of First Baptist, Ballinger, a county seat church in rural West Texas. FBC Ballinger supports both SBC and CBF mission causes.
All three churches strongly support BGCT missions and ministries. These three people make for a good team that reflects the openness and diversity for which we have long worked at Texas Baptists Committed – in other words, a place for all Texas Baptists to serve.
I will strongly support all three of these officers, as long as none of them embraces Fundamentalism in any form or fashion or pretends that the events of the past 30 years in Baptist life did not take place – events in which one group of people has consistently violated historic Baptist principles by threatening the God-given freedom of the rest of us. We need to move forward as a united convention – not re-fight old battles that Texas Baptists settled years ago in favor of freedom.
Saying Goodbye to a Friend
In the midst of convention activities this morning, I received a phone call from Hartley, Texas. Hartley is a small farming community located north of Amarillo.
Many years ago, I became friends with Robert Green, a farmer from Hartley. We were both active in the Texas Farmers Union. Robert became a TBC supporter as well.
A few years ago, Robert asked me to please preach his funeral when the time came, and I promised I would do so. This morning, his wife Ann called to tell me that the time had come. So I will return to San Angelo tomorrow and then drive to Hartley on Wednesday to preach the Word and comfort the family of a good man who was special to me because he cared about Jesus, the land, and me. I am honored.
Being with Family
I’ll return home Thursday evening. On Friday evening, I’ll watch the Bangs Dragons play the Colorado City Wolves. My stepson, Chuck, is head coach at Bangs, which won a very tough district championship (after being picked to finish fourth at the start of the season). I’ll go to this game, because Chuck is very special to me. I’m hoping that he and my nephew, Craig, who is head coach of the Clyde Bulldogs, both win so that I can see Clyde play next week.
Saturday morning, it is on to Waco, where Lance, Chad, and I will get to see our beloved Baylor Bears play for the first time this season. Watching Baylor as a family is a very special moment for us and always has been. We will also celebrate Lance passing the Bar on his first try. I guess he is officially a lawyer now.
Giving Thanks
So it is going to be a very busy week and, yet, a very good week. I’ll be feeling all kinds of emotions. The excitement of life, the sadness of death, and either the joy of winning or the despair of losing – or maybe even both.
And when I go to church Sunday morning – very tired, I’m sure – I plan to pray a prayer of thanksgiving that I have such a wonderful church, and so many wonderful people and experiences in my life.
And the most special gift of all – Mother will make it to another TBC breakfast at age 91. I’m very grateful.