BGCT launches probe of church-planting funds in the Valley

Posted: 4/28/06

BGCT launches probe of
church-planting funds in the Valley

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS—The Baptist General Con-vention of Texas has enlisted an independent accountant to investigate possible mishandling of church-starting funds in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

“Allegations came to our attention, and we began an internal probe,” said BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade. “That effort has indicated a need to bring in an outside financial expert to evaluate the situation.”

The convention enlisted Mike Steiger, a retired certified public accountant from Arlington, to examine how BGCT church-starting funds were used from 1996 to 2003 in Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association and what is now The Borderlands Baptist Association to start “cell-group” congregations, said Ron Gunter, BGCT associate executive director and chief operating officer.

“We want to determine how the money was used,” he said. “It’s important that we not pre-judge what took place, but it’s also important that we do a thorough audit.”

Gunter declined “at this time” to identify specific findings of the internal probe that prompted the state convention to secure the services of an independent accountant.

The audit likely will take three to four months, he said, adding he did not know yet how much money is in question of possibly having been mishandled.

Steiger began gathering information April 17, and the BGCT is cooperating fully in providing all requested data, Gunter said.

The accountant not only will look at the number of churches and money received, but also will look at how many church-starts still are in existence, he confirmed.

“We’ve not wanted to limit him in any way,” Gunter said.

The 1995 BGCT Annual listed 90 churches and 29 missions in Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association. In 1996—the first year included in the investigation—the association reported 92 churches and 38 missions.

In 2003—the final year being probed—the BGCT Annual listed 105 churches and 240 missions for the association.

Of those 240 missions, 151 listed as their sponsors six of the churches that formed The Borderlands Baptist Association the following year. The 2004 BGCT Annual listed 10 churches and 174 missions in The Borderlands Baptist Association.

Listing as a mission in the annual does not necessarily mean a congregation received BGCT funding.

David Montoya, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Mineral Wells and former pastor of First Baptist Church in Donna, has called for an investigation of church-planting funding in the lower Rio Grande Valley for several years.

Montoya said he was pleased the BGCT staff secured an independent accountant for an audit, but he wants the BGCT Executive Board to launch its own investigation.

The Palo Pinto Baptist Association executive committee adopted a resolution asking the BGCT Executive Board to investigate the matter, and Montoya said he expects other associations to take similar action.

BGCT emphasis on church-starting dates back at least to the Mission Texas emphasis of 1985 to 1990, and it has continued in recent years, with Texas Baptists starting 191 congregations in 2005 and setting a goal of 250 new congregations this year.

“Most of those grow into healthy, full-fledged churches,” Gunter said. “But when there is a question about how BGCT funds are being used, it’s important that we do everything possible to look into the situation.

“The BGCT has a long history of integrity in dealing with finances, and the effort to check into this situation more deeply is a reflection of that continued commitment. … We are evaluating all of our procedures in regard to starting churches, as well as examining other processes as a part of our reorganization. We want to continue to improve and always strive to do a better job.”

BGCT Communications Director Ferrell Foster contributed to this article.