BGCT will apply for Baptist World Alliance membership_30705

Posted: 3/4/05

BGCT will apply for Baptist World Alliance membership

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas will apply for full voting membership in the Baptist World Alliance.

The BGCT Executive Board approved–with only two dissenting votes–a recommendation from the convention's Administrative Committee that the BGCT submit an application for BWA membership.

Historically, full membership in the international fellowship has been limited to national conventions and Baptist unions, but the BWA last year agreed to open its membership to other supportive Baptist bodies.

In January, the BGCT and the Baptist General Association of Virginia cleared one hurdle toward BWA membership when they were admitted as members of the North American Baptist fellowship, one of the BWA's six regional fellowships.

The BWA membership committee will consider applications from the Texas and Virginia state conventions at a March 7 meeting. If that committee recommends approval, Baptists from around the world will vote on membership for the BGCT and the Virginia Baptist convention during the BWA Centenary Congress July 27-31 in Birmingham, England.

The BGCT decision to seek BWA membership comes in the wake of the Southern Baptist Convention's “economic and emotional pullout” from the BWA last year, but it reflects a commitment to the world body that Texas Baptists have had since the BWA's beginning, said Bob Fowler, chairman of the BGCT Administrative Committee.

Messengers to the 1997 BGCT annual meeting in Austin voted for the convention to explore the possibility of the BGCT becoming a member of the BWA as part of a proposal from the convention's Effectiveness & Efficiency Committee.

George Truett and other prominent Texas Baptists were instrumental in founding the BWA 100 years ago, and Texas Baptists long have been involved in BWA-related committees and commissions, BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade said.

The BGCT also has supported BWA-related causes financially. Since 2002, the BGCT has provided $50,000 each year to help fund indigenous church-planting efforts of the European Baptist Federation, one of six regional BWA fellowships. Last year, the BGCT contributed $129,000 to Baptist World Aid relief and development programs through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger.

In other business, the BGCT Executive Board approved the position of associate executive director/chief operating officer for the convention. The chief operating officer will plan, direct and administer BGCT operations in accordance with the direction, strategy, priorities and policies developed by the executive director and the Executive Board, the newly approved job description said.

Wesley Shotwell of Azle, chairman of a governance committee appointed to draft new bylaws for the BGCT, presented a progress report to the board. He noted the committee is wrestling with definitions for “cooperating” and “affiliated” churches, and it is continuing to struggle with the issues of membership and representation on the Executive Board. The board will consider a final draft of the bylaws at its May 24 meeting.

Ferrell Foster of Texas Baptist Communications contributed to this article