BGCT Executive Board: Budget, Baylor, ballots, bylaws

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board advanced a reduced 2027 budget and governance amendments for messenger vote during the 2026 BGCT annual meeting in Waco, Nov. 15-17. But they did not advance a revised relationship agreement between Baylor and the BGCT.

The Executive Board also learned more about the introduction of electronic voting at the upcoming annual meeting and conducted other business.

Decreased 2027 budget

The board approved a total 2027 proposed budget of $44,644,912. This total amount relies on $24,207,658 in Cooperative Program giving, down from $28.2 million in 2026.

The remaining $20,437,254 is expected to come from the following sources:

• investment income of $4,662,000,
• donor designated gifts and earnings of $12,708,516,
• Mary Hill Davis grants totaling $1,740,950, and
• sales, fees, and sponsorships totaling $1,325,788.

The reduced 2027 budget takes into account a 20-year decline in Cooperative Program giving paired with inflation reducing the convention’s buying power.

The Executive Board approved creation of a Cooperative Program Task Force in its February meeting to determine factors causing the decline in Cooperative Program giving. The task force expects to provide a full report of its findings in the February 2027 Executive Board meeting.

Due to good liquidity, growth in endowment and investment income, and other positive indicators, BGCT CFO Ward Hayes reported the BGCT is in strong financial position, despite 2026 Cooperative Program receipts approximately $524,000 below prior year giving at the time of the meeting.

Budget by category

The proposed 2027 budget is broken down into new categories in line with the organizational restructuring around GC2 Strong. What Hayes referred to as “frontline ministries” fall under the headings Church Strong Team, Minister Strong Team, Missions Strong Team, Collegiate Ministries Team, and Christian Life Commission.

The Church Strong Team includes Church Health Strategy (PAVE), GC2 Strong, discipleship, evangelism, music and worship, and church architecture. Minister Strong includes pastoral health networks, Pastor’s Common, interim pastors, pastorless churches, counseling services, Ministry Safe, women in ministry, and bivocational pastors. Missions Strong includes church starting, River Ministry, Missionary Adoption Program, and chaplaincy.

Proposed 2027 versus 2026 budget allocations for these three teams and the ministries they include are as follows. Figures are as shown in the budget proposal provided to the Executive Board.

• Church Strong: $4,085,901, down from $4,363,016.
• Minister Strong: $1,575,529, down from $2,606,029.
• Missions Strong: $5,830,238, down from $6,539,363.

Collegiate Ministry is allocated $10,048,585, up from $9,051,107. The Christian Life Commission is allocated $1,388,459, down from $1,573,800.

Remaining budget categories are under Leadership Support:

• Executive Director Support, which includes Affinity Ministries (African American Ministries, Texas Baptists en Español, Intercultural Ministries, and Western Heritage): $4,016,471, down from $4,049,319.
• Associate Director Support: $1,734,272, down from $1,969,051.
• CFO Support: $6,310,269, down from $6,797,353.
• Relational Development, which includes institutional relationships: $7,129,309, down from $8,311,268. Most institutions receiving base support—a lump sum Cooperative Program allocation—will receive a reduced amount. *
• Resource Development, which includes Texas Baptist Communications, associational relationships, and GC2 Press: $2,525,879, down from $2,655,272.

A full budget report will be made available ahead of the 2026 BGCT annual meeting.

Baylor/BGCT relationship

After an executive session lasting more than an hour, the Executive Board referred back to the Institutional Relations Committee a proposed revision to the special relationship agreement between the BGCT and Baylor, the latter according to a statement from Texas Baptists.

During the 2025 BGCT annual meeting in Abilene, Mike Miller, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville, made two motions related to the BGCT’s relationship with Baylor. The first, to remove Baylor completely from the 2026 BGCT budget, was soundly defeated.

The second, directing the Institutional Relations Committee “to evaluate the special relationship agreement with Baylor University, specifically with respect to Baylor’s endorsements of and partnerships and affiliations with any organizations that advocate or affirm the LGBTQ lifestyle and agenda, and report back any findings, actions, or recommendations,” led to a standing ballot vote narrowly rejecting the motion.

In response to a student-led event to be held at Baylor on April 22, 2026, that included well-known gay Christian speakers, BGCT Executive Director Julio Guarneri announced he would ask the Executive Board at its May meeting “to initiate a study of our relationship with Baylor through our Institutional Relations Committee.”

During the May Executive Board meeting, Guarneri said possible changes in the relationship between Baylor and the BGCT could include funding and regent election.

The Institutional Relations Committee discussed this request in executive session during the May BGCT Executive Board meeting in Plainview. The committee asked Guarneri and Baylor President Linda Livingstone to review the relationship agreement and report their progress to the committee at the September Executive Board meeting.

The following day, Dustin Slaton, chair of the committee, reported the consideration of the institutional relationship “is not reactionary to the April events or any specific event, but something that we have already been considering.”

Constitution and bylaw amendments

The Executive Board also approved recommended amendments to the BGCT constitution and bylaws brought by the Constitution and Bylaws Task Force created during the board’s February 2026 meeting. The last review of these governing documents was at least 10 years ago, according to the task force.

Constitutional amendments require an affirmative vote by messengers in two consecutive BGCT annual meetings. Bylaw amendments require an affirmative vote by messengers in one annual meeting.

Therefore, the following constitutional amendments will be presented to messengers for the first vote during the 2026 annual meeting. If those amendments pass the first vote, they will be voted on by messengers again, along with the proposed bylaw amendments, at the 2027 annual meeting.

Membership and messengers

The task force recommended moving Article I of the bylaws to Article III of the constitution. The article defines affiliation with the BGCT as both “identifying, aligning, and endorsing with the purposes and work of the Convention” and “eligibility to send messengers.”

In the proposed constitutional amendment, “harmonious cooperation” replaces “affiliated with” throughout. Additionally, messenger eligibility is decoupled from convention membership. Third, the financial component for membership would be amended to require a financial contribution within the last three years.

Criteria for sending messengers to BGCT annual meetings currently stated in Article III, Section 1 of the constitution would be moved to Article II in the bylaws and amended. The bylaw amendment would specify:

• One messenger for the first $300 given to the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program during the BGCT’s previous fiscal year and one additional messenger for the next $300 given, not to exceed two total messengers.

• For each additional $2,500 given to the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program in the same period, a church can send one additional messenger, not to exceed six total messengers.

• For each additional $10,000 given to the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program in the same period, a church can send one additional messenger, not to exceed 20 total messengers, thus reducing the maximum number of messengers a church can send from 25 to 20.

In consideration of churches newly admitted to BGCT membership, the Executive Board also amended the messenger provision as follows: “Messengers from churches newly deemed in harmonious cooperation with the convention may be seated at an annual meeting in the same year the messenger’s church is accepted into the convention, provided the church meets the contribution requirements stated above by the end of the month two months prior to the annual meeting.”

Executive Board authority and composition

A third constitutional amendment would amend Article VII, Section 1 to add: “D. The Executive Board has the authority to determine, on the Convention’s behalf, whether a church is in harmonious cooperation. The Executive Board has the responsibility, on the Convention’s behalf, by an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors present and voting to receive churches into and remove churches from Convention membership.”

An amendment to Bylaw Article V would make the following changes:

• Section 1.A: Adds a provision for one Executive Board director to “be elected from an additional sector comprising all churches in harmonious cooperation with the Convention outside of Texas,” increasing the size of the Executive Board from 90 to 91 members.

• Section 1.E: Reduces the clergy and laity proportions of board membership from 40 percent to 30 percent and changes “non-anglo” to “persons from an historic racial or ethnic minority group.”

An amendment to Bylaw Article V, Section 1.J seeks to clarify the Executive Board’s authority to remove Executive Board directors when necessary, consistent with the board’s policy manual.

An amendment to Bylaw Article V, Section 4.G would move authorization of the Response Council from the policy manual to the bylaws.

Electronic voting coming to annual meeting

Electronic voting will be introduced during the 2026 BGCT annual meeting. This voting method is intended primarily for votes requiring more than a simple raised-ballot vote to provide a more expedited processing time for votes to streamline the business process. It is not expected to be a replacement for all voting at the 2026 annual meeting.

When messengers register, they will receive a special card for voting on perfunctory matters. Paper ballots will be available as a backup.

Messengers will be prompted to opt in to electronic voting once they have been registered by their church or in-personat the annual meeting, providing a unique mobile phone number to receive text messages from Texas Baptists. Any mobile phone that can send and receive text messages will work. Provisional ballots will be available in the event a person is unable to vote electronically.

For electronic voting during the business session, messengers will receive a text prompting them to enter a three-digit verification code that will be available during the session. Messengers then will be prompted to submit their votes during a limited timeframe. Votes will be processed through Texas Baptists’ Information Management Technology systems and will remain anonymous.

A tutorial is also expected to be available to help messengers understand the electronic voting process.

Insurance update

Craig Christina, BGCT associate executive director and president of Covenant Solutions, reported 650 churches have committed and signed up for insurance, with combined savings of more than $4 million.

On Sept. 1, KingsCover added its own commercial auto insurance and excess liability.

KingsCover, to differentiate the agency from the product of the same name, has changed the agency name to Dominion First. Those seeking insurance quotes can visit either kingscover.com or dominionfirst.com.

Covenant Solutions, hopes to contribute back “several hundred thousand dollars” to the operations of the BGCT next year, Christina reported. This contribution back to the BGCT is reflected in the 2027 budget, he said, and will cover part of his salary and CFO Ward Hayes’ salary because of the time they give to Covenant Solutions, Christina said.

Other finance recommendations

The Executive Board also approved the following three Finance Committee recommended allocations in the proposed 2027 budget:

• Worldwide missions initiatives and partnerships: $1.1 million ($850,000 for international missions and partnerships, $250,000 for North American missions and partnerships).

• Contracting Batts Morrison Wales & Lee to conduct the consolidated 2026 financial audit at an estimated cost of $71,100.

• Designating the purpose of the Houston and Lenora Hill endowment and its earnings to church strengthening and revitalization through Church Health Strategy (PAVE) and GC2, with particular focus on small and/or rural churches.

Board officer elections

Current Executive Board Chair Suzie Liner was re-elected by acclamation to a second term as chair. She is an active member of First Baptist Church in Lubbock.

Current Executive Board Vice Chair Keith Warren was re-elected by acclamation to a second term as vice chair. He is the executive pastor of North Side Baptist Church in Weatherford.

Commission and council vacancies filled

The following recommendations to fill vacancies were approved. Term expirations are in parentheses.

Finance Committee

• Audit Council: Heather Fairman, First Baptist Church, Anna (2029); Julia Maw, First Baptist Church, Farmers Branch (2029); Deborah Woods, First Baptist Church, Farmers Branch (2029).

Institutional Relations Committee

• Theological Education and Baptist Distinctives councils: Dana Moore, Second Baptist Church, Corpus Christi (2029); Leonard Hornsby, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Mansfield (2029).
• Hispanic Education Council: Gilma Martinez, First Baptist Church, Kaufman (2029); Joe Rangel, Alamo Heights Baptist Church, San Antonio (2029); Rebeka Retta, Primera Iglesia Bautista, Belton (2029).

Relationship Development Committee

• Affinity Ministries Council: Eric Brown, New Jerusalem Church, Greenville (2029).
• Western Heritage Council: Jay Johnson, San Angelo Cowboy Church, San Angelo (2028); Wes Brown, Cowboy Church of Collin County, Princeton (2029); Werth Mayes, Cowboy Church of Erath County, Stephenville (2029).

Resource Development Committee

• Communications and Publicity Council: Jonathan Taylor, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Mansfield (2027); Ashley Smith, First Baptist Church, Belton (2029).
• GC2 Press Advisory Council: Abby Stuckle, The Woodlands First Baptist Church, The Woodlands (2029); Randy Robertson, First Baptist Church, Richardson (2029).
• Cooperative Program Council: Victor Castillo, Rio Grande Bible Church, McAllen (2029).

Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Committee

• Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Council: Randy Bigbee, First Baptist Church, Chappell Hill (2029); Manny Ruiz, First Baptist Church, San Antonio (2029); Dean Kornegay, First Baptist Church, Garland (2029); Cheryl Jones, First Baptist Church, Temple (2029); Charlie Jones, First Baptist Church, Vernon (2029); Doug Anderson, First Baptist Church, McKinney (2029); Sam Jones, First Baptist Church, Arlington (2029); James Westbrook, First Baptist Church, Richardson (2029).

Center for Church Health Committee

• Music and Worship Council: Connie Anthony, First Baptist Church, Conroe (2029).

Center for Collegiate Ministry Committee

• Baptist Student Ministry Council: John Sturrock, First Baptist Church, Tyler (2029); Ann Tyree Hollub, First Baptist Church, Midlothian (2029); Sherry Lindsey, First Baptist Church, Big Spring (2029).

Center for Ministerial Health Committee

• Pastoral Health Council: Jason Burden, First Baptist Church, Lubbock (2028); John Silva, Real Life Fellowship, Lubbock (2029); Jeremy Bell, First Baptist Church, Holland (2029); Daniel Messina, Crosspoint Church, McKinney (2029).
• Chaplaincy Endorsement Council, previously under Center for Missional Engagement Committee: Regina Allen, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston (2029); Leslie Craymer, Rothbury Community Church, Rothbury (2029); Doug Brock, Community Bible Church, Richmond Hill (2029); Randall Potter, First Baptist Church, Hurst (2029); Greg Schwartz, Westgate Memorial Baptist Church, Beaumont (2029).

Center for Missional Engagement Committee

• Missions Engagement Coordinating Council: Jackie Faughn, First Baptist Church, McKinney (2028); Nathan Buchanan, First Baptist Church, Mineral Wells (2029); Chris Benites, Freedom Church, Fort Worth (2029); Donnie Brown, First Baptist Church, Plainview (2029); Tom Revilla, First Baptist Church, Temple (2029).
• Missions Funding Council: Debra Perry, Coulter Road Baptist Church, Amarillo (2029); Bryan Pinson, First Baptist Church, Midland (2029).

Christian Life Committee

• Christian Life Commission: Tanner Watson, First Baptist Church, Conroe (2029).

Purpose and composition of commissions and councils

As explained in BGCT Policy 410.2, commissions and councils are authorized by the Executive Board to “function as extensions of the work of programs, ministries, committees, and other areas of the BGCT” as approved by the Executive Board.

Commissions and councils are funded by the BGCT.

Each commission or council serves a corresponding standing committee of the Executive Board.

Each must have “at least two Executive Board directors as members,” and the chair of each must be an Executive Board director who is also “a member from the related committee of the Executive Board and is appointed by the committee chair in consultation with the Executive Committee.”

Remaining commission or council members are “at-large” and “are recommended by the Executive Board committee under which the council/commission exists and are approved by the Executive Board.”

No commission or council member is “to serve on more than one commission or council” at a time.

Commissions and councils are “kept reasonably small, at a number sufficient to service the needs and accomplish the purposes of the” commission or council.

“Commissions and councils may meet up to three times in a year unless otherwise specified in the description of the” commission’s or council’s purpose.

“Each member of [a commission or council] must be a member of a church in harmonious cooperation with the BGCT unless specified in the entity description. Exceptions may be made for entities which have members from out of state.”

* Baptist Standard does not receive base support from the BGCT Cooperative Program. Funds allocated to Baptist Standard are for advertising, which is paid on a per invoice basis.