BGCT approves decreased budget

WACO—Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting approved a decreased 2017 budget.

The 2017 operating budget totals $36,638,274, compared to $37,996,806 for 2016.

Messengers authorized 2017 net budget allocations of $34 million, down $1.42 million from the current spending plan. It depends on $29.6 million in Cooperative Program receipts from churches, compared to $31 million in the 2016 budget. The approved budget anticipates $4.4 million in investment income.

In addition, the 2017 budget includes more than $2.6 million in additional revenue from the North American Mission Board, conference and booth fees, product sales and other miscellaneous sources.

Messengers also approved continued division of undesignated receipts from affiliated churches, with 79 percent allocated for the BGCT and 21 percent for worldwide causes. Each church determines the recipient or recipients of its worldwide giving. The division of funds means a projected $1.3 million for Texas worldwide missions initiatives and partnerships, compared to $1.47 million in 2016.

In other business, messengers voted to:

• Amend the certificates of formation and bylaws for the Baptist Foundation of Texas­—now doing business as HighGround Advisors—and Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio. In both instances, the BGCT ceases to be the sole member of the corporation, and the entities become no-member nonprofit organizations, like most other BGCT-related institutions. The amendments also allow HighGround Advisors to serve non-Baptist charitable organizations whose mission and purpose are not inconsistent with Baptist faith and belief.
• Amend the BGCT bylaws to change the name of the Committee on Convention Business to the Committee on the Annual Meeting. The change aligns the committee description in the bylaws with the BGCT constitution.
• Approve termination of the Hendrick Medical Development Corporation, which no longer serves any purpose, at the request of the Hendrick Medical Center board.