BGCT elects top officers reflecting the convention’s growing ethnic diversity_111504

Posted: 11/12/04

BGCT elects top officers reflecting
the convention's growing ethnic diversity

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas elected officers representative of the state's–and the convention's–ethnic diversity.

Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas, was elected the first non-Anglo president of the BGCT.

BGCT messengers elected Reyes, who served as first vice president of the convention this year, by acclamation. He is the second consecutive institution president to be named convention president, following Buck-ner Baptist Benevolences President Ken Hall.

Messengers also elected by acclamation Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, as first vice president and Stacey Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church of Muleshoe, as second vice president.

Charles Johnson, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, nominated Reyes. Johnson said Reyes' perspective is a perfect fit for a convention ministering in an increasingly Hispanic state.

Texas seems destined to become a predominantly Hispanic state in the coming decades, Johnson said.

The convention is at a “historic crossroads” where churches must minister among a multitude of cultures, and Reyes can help congregations do that, he said.

“No one is more uniquely equipped to lead us into this new era of mission and ministry,” he said.

Reyes inherits a convention in the middle of a massive reorganization effort. It is primed to overhaul its governance system, spread its Executive Board staff across the state and implement a new vision.

Officials also are trying to more strongly include non-Anglos and younger generations in leadership positions.

Prior to becoming Baptist University of the Americas president, Reyes was the founding pastor of Pueblo Nuevo Community Church in El Paso.

He has been chairman of the Hispanic Outreach Task Force of the White House Initiative for Hispanic Academic Excellence.

Reyes is a board member of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and Texas Baptists Committed. He was a trustee of Valley Baptist Academy.

He earned master's and doctoral degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is working on another doctorate from Andrews University. He holds a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University.

He and his wife, Belinda, have three sons.

In nominating Bell for first vice president, George Mason of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas described him as “made to lead. … Electing him to this position only validates the work of the Creator who so gifted him.”

Bell serves on the BGCT Executive Board and Christian Life Commission. He also is secretary of the African American Fellowship of Texas and president of the Tarrant Baptist Association African American Pastors' Fellowship.

He is a member of the board of directors for Texas Baptists Committed and has been a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Coordinating Council and the Baptist Advisory Committee at Texas Christian University's Brite Divinity School.

He helped found the Tarrant Clergy for Inter-Ethnic Peace and Justice. He also led a CBF committee that helped the organization develop relationships with people groups.

He earned a doctorate from the Interdenominational Theological Center and Morehouse School of Religion. He has master's degrees from Howard University Divinity School and the University of Texas at Tyler. His bachelor's degree is from Wiley College.

He and his wife, Mary Louise, have three children.

In nominating Conner for second vice president, Lonny Poe of Sunset Canyon Baptist Church in Dripping Springs described him as having been brought up Texas Baptist and faithfully serving Texas Baptists.

Conner has been pastor at First Baptist Church in Muleshoe since 1991. Before that, he was pastor of First Baptist Church in Matador.

He is a trustee of Wayland Baptist University and is on the national Coordinating Council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

He is a former BGCT Executive Board member. He also served on the Christian Education Coordinating Board, including a term as vice chairman.

He earned a doctor of ministry degree from Texas Christian University's Brite Divinity School, a master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree from Wayland Baptist University.

He and his wife, Debbie, have three childen.

Convention messengers re-elected Irby Cox as registration secretary, David Nabors as recording secretary and Bernie Spooner as secretary of the corporation.