BGCT-endorsed chaplains top 200; most are first-time endorsements_90604

Posted: 9/03/04

BGCT-endorsed chaplains top 200;
most are first-time endorsements

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas has endorsed more than 200 chaplains, and most are first-time endorsements.

With the 17 chaplains endorsed in August, the BGCT has approved 210 chaplains in two years–109 first-time endorsements and 101 transfers. Most recent endorsements have been new chaplains.

These BGCT chaplains include 105 in healthcare, 31 Army, 21 restorative justice, 16 Air Force, 12 pastoral counseling, nine Navy and eight business and industry. BGCT chaplains serve in 20 states and five countries.

BGCT Chaplaincy Relations Director Bobby Smith tries to visit each endorsed chaplain at least once a year, meeting supervisors, taking each chaplain's family to dinner and looking for ways the convention can serve the chaplain.

Chaplaincy leaders also are looking for ways to offer training and fellowship opportunities. The annual October retreat is drawing interest from chaplains across endorsing lines, organizers note.

Gatherings help to support and encourage chaplains who often feel isolated because of the nature of their work, said Bill Ingram, a member of the BGCT Chaplaincy Endorsement Board.

“Being a chaplain is kind of a lonely thing,” he said. “It's not like they have a church around them all the time.”

These efforts–combined with the performance of BGCT chaplains–are drawing the attention of supervisors, Ingram reported.

“The exciting thing is sometimes we are getting people who are not endorsed by us who are leaders who are recommending us as endorsers,” he said.

The rapidly growing number of Texas Baptist chaplains reflects God working through this BGCT effort, Smith said. God has blessed this ministry greatly, calling the appropriate people to his service, he added.

“It has been a true blessing to observe how God has been moving in the hearts and minds of Baptists to extend a call and lead them beyond the walls of the local church to do pastoral ministry in specialized ministry settings,” Smith said.

“I appreciate the two years of devoted service by the BGCT Endorsement Board to the Baptist General Convention of Texas and its chaplains and pastoral counselors, which led to the creation and development of such a strong and wonderful program of ministry and relationship.”