First, I want to thank this year’s BGCT officers – Joy Fenner, Mike Massar, and Jeff Raines – for their outstanding service to our convention this year.
Second, I’d like to address TBC’s decision to not formally endorse any candidates for BGCT office this year. In recent years, some people have expressed concern about TBC continuing its policy of endorsing candidates for BGCT office 10 years after the Fundamentalists formed their own state convention. There were good reasons for TBC to endorse candidates, and I stand behind our decision to do so all these years. We have endorsed candidates because we believed it was important to promote strong leadership for the BGCT and because we needed to show our deep respect and appreciation for our many ethnic congregations, as well as the key leadership roles that women fill in our churches.
Most of the concern has been expressed by persons who, while supporting the BGCT, have remained equally supportive of the SBC. To be blunt and very honest (after 21 years, I doubt that you would expect any less from me), such a dual commitment doesn’t make sense to me. But it is reality among quite a few people and churches.
It is also reality that most BGCT churches continue to give to the SBC. We must respect the freedom of people and churches to give as they feel led.
This year, our TBC Board decided not to publicly endorse candidates for BGCT office, in the belief that it may finally be time to stop that practice. As I wrote earlier this year, however, our Board and I continue to stay informed about candidates, their positions, and their track records. If we find that any candidate is a Fundamentalist and/or does not fully support the BGCT, we will let you know without delay. You will always be able to trust TBC and David Currie to keep you informed of any Fundamentalist threat to our convention.
BGCT OFFICER CANDIDATES – AS OF MID-OCTOBER
PRESIDENT
There are two announced candidates for president of the BGCT.
Stephen Hatfield, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lewisville, will be nominated for president of the BGCT. I have known Stephen for many years, as he held TBC rallies in his church during the heat of the battle in the 1990s. Stephen attended our TBC Convocation this year. His sister, Gracie Hilton, published our first TBC newsletters 20 years ago.
Stephen has served as chair of the BGCT Administrative Committee and now chairs the BGCT Vision Committee, which has the assignment of setting our convention’s agenda for the next 10 years.
He has a great legacy as the son of Lawson Hatfield, long-time Sunday School director for the Arkansas state convention.
David Lowrie is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Canyon. He ran against Joy Fenner last year in Amarillo. David and I serve together on the Howard Payne University Board, and we have talked several times during the past year. His church has several missionaries serving with the SBC on the mission field and, thus, has remained supportive of the SBC.
David attended our TBC Convocation this year. It’s my impression that David was encouraged to find that TBC supporters are conservative Texas Baptists who love freedom, Jesus, and the Bible.
He has a great legacy as the son of D. L. Lowrie, a former BGCT president who served as pastor of First Baptist, Lubbock, and succeeded my uncle, Charlie McLaughlin, as State Missions director.
I honestly believe that either of these men will be good for the BGCT. Having said that, I also want to request that the next president – whether Stephen or David – continue the recent practice of serving only one term. The BGCT is a large convention, and we are at our best when we share leadership as widely as possible.
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
At this time, I know of only one candidate for first vice president.
Carolyn Strickland is a member of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. She will be nominated by her pastor, George Mason. Carolyn is a great choice and a great friend. She has had a wonderful ministry for many years, developing and running preschools for Hispanic children in Dallas, helping to prepare them for first grade and teaching them English.
Carolyn is the widow of my closest friend, Phil Strickland, long-time director of the BGCT Christian Life Commission. Phil was a brilliant and courageous man. All of you know how much I admired him as well as loved him. But a big part of his great success was Carolyn, who grounded him and supported him.
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
I also know of only one candidate for second vice president.
Bobby Broyles is pastor of First Baptist Church, Ballinger. Bobby and I went to Howard Payne together. My sister, Carolyn, plays the organ in his church, and my brother-in-law, Danny, is a deacon there.
Bobby reminds me of two pastors I respect greatly, the late (and very great) Billy Ray Parmer (Valley Mills) and J. B. Bitner (Big Lake). These two men invested themselves in their communities and, basically, served as pastor of the entire town. Bobby does the same thing. The Ballinger church has come alive like it used to be, when Ferris Akins (another rural pastor role model) was pastor 25 years ago. They are growing, building, and baptizing like a healthy church should.
ANY MORE CANDIDATES?
If we hear of any other candidates surfacing before the convention, we will provide that information through our Web site and other resources, including any thoughts I have about those candidates.
Please come to Fort Worth on November 10-11, and take seriously the responsibility that we all have to protect the freedom of the BGCT. Come and celebrate our freedom as Texas Baptists.