Texas Baptists look to future, celebrate diversity_111504

Posted: 11/12/04

Texas Baptists look to future, celebrate diversity

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The Baptist General Convention of Texas is primed for a bright future in a changing state, according to its leadership.

The convention has positioned itself to minister in a state where the Baptist environment is settling and residents are becoming more diverse, said BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade, outgoing President Ken Hall and new President Albert Reyes.

At its annual meeting in San Antonio Nov. 8-9, the convention embraced its diverse constituency like never before.

Reyes became the first non-Anglo BGCT president. This past year, he and African-American Pastor Dennis Young served as convention vice presidents and were the first two ethnic minorities to be officers together in the same year. The officers appointed ethnic minorities as chairpersons of six committees.

In San Antonio, African-American Pastor Michael Bell was elected first vice president alongside Reyes.

African-American, Anglo and Hispanic voices spoke out when the convention discussed its business during the annual meeting in San Antonio. About 2,200 of the 5,700 BGCT churches are non-Anglo congregations.

“I don't think there's any question that as we project the future, we have to be inclusive,” Hall said during a news conference at the annual meeting.

Hall, Reyes and Wade all indicated they want the increased inclusion of ethnic minorities to continue, as do those minorities. Each official spoke of a desire to increase the number of ethnic minorities on the BGCT Executive Board.

“I sense as we as Texas Baptists are becoming aware that the world around us is changing; we are changing,” Reyes said.

For the first time in recent history, the BGCT appears to have made it through the year without a major scrape with the Southern Baptist Convention or the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, Wade observed, noting Texas Baptists appear squarely behind their leaders.

The convention “is looking to the future,” he stressed. “We are not fighting any more old battles. It is a historic day.”

Reyes described the convention as a family. Although Texas Baptists disagree at times, they come together at the end of discussions. The group's ability to rally around its members is one of its strengths.

“It's been a very good day,” Hall said after messengers made an initial vote to overhaul the convention's structure. “We Baptists do our business best in the open.”

Each leader said he hoped to build on the strength of the convention as restructuring begins.

The BGCT appears healthier than in recent years, but Wade, Hall and Reyes said they look for God to use Texas Baptists in even mightier ways in the future.

“We are an extraordinary people gifted with unbelievable resources,” Hall said.