Messengers to the 2022 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Waco will elect officers and consider a $35.46 million budget for next year.
“Unwavering” is the theme of Texas Baptists’ annual meeting, Nov. 13-15 at the Waco Convention Center.
The meeting will include worship services and a variety of workshops, including one on “Bridging the Generational Divide” at 9 a.m. on Nov. 14, presented by the Millennial/Gen Z Task Force created in response to a motion at the 2022 annual meeting.
Featured speakers include Michael Gossett, pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler; Tony Canady, pastor and church planter of Triumphal Christian Fellowship in Waxahachie; Ariel Martinez, pastor of Del Sol Church in El Paso; and Jason Burden, incumbent BGCT president and pastor of First Baptist Church in Nederland.
At this time, three individuals have been announced as nominees for convention office:
- Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, will be nominated for BGCT president. Guarneri is the incumbent first vice president.
- Nebiye Kelile, pastor of both Pathway Church and Orchard Hills Baptist Church in Garland, will be nominated for first vice president. He is the incumbent second vice president.
- Ronny Marriott, pastor of First Baptist Church in Burleson, will be nominated for second vice president.
Proposed budget a 2.5 percent increase
Church-approved messengers will be asked to approve a $35,459,500 total Texas budget for 2023, a 2.5 percent increase over the 2022 budget, as recommended by the BGCT Executive board.
The proposed budget projects a $33.9 million net Texas budget—based on Cooperative Program giving and investment income—for 2023. It depends on $27.25 million in Texas Cooperative Program receipts from churches.
The proposed 2023 budget anticipates about $6.65 million in investment income, up from $5.4 million anticipated for 2022. It also projects about $1.77 million in additional revenue from conference and booth fees, product sales and other sources.
If approved by messengers, undesignated receipts from affiliated churches will continue to be divided 79 percent for the BGCT and 21 percent for worldwide causes.
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An anticipated $1 million in worldwide missions initiatives and partnerships will be allocated in the same manner as the previous year: $340,000 for missions mobilization, $200,000 for River Ministry and Mexico missions, $100,000 for Texas Partnerships, $55,000 for the Baptist World Alliance, $5,000 for the North American Baptist Fellowship, $50,000 for intercultural international initiatives, $200,000 for Go Now Missions, $20,000 for the Hispanic Education Task Force and $30,000 for chaplaincy.
Special relationship with Denison Ministries
Messengers from BGCT-affiliated churches also will consider a special relationship agreement between the BGCT and Denison Ministries, and they will hear David Hardage’s final report to the Texas Baptists as their executive director.
Hardage has announced plans to retire at the end of this year. The executive director search committee is holding virtual listening sessions with Texas Baptists, and an in-person listening session will be scheduled at the annual meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 14.
The proposed relationship agreement with Denison Ministries calls for:
- Jim Denison, co-founder and CEO of Denison Ministries, to be designated as theologian-in-residence for Texas Baptists.
- Denison Ministries to make available a keynote speaker or workshop leader for Texas Baptists’ annual meeting, and the BGCT to make available at no cost booth space to Denison Ministries at the annual meeting.
- Texas Baptists and Denison Ministries to work cooperatively on ministry projects such as training events and conferences.
Related events slated
On Sunday evening, Nov. 13, three rallies are scheduled:
- Texas Baptists en Español Celebration at First Baptist Church in Waco. A banquet is scheduled at 6 p.m., followed by the celebration at 7 p.m.
- African American Rally at Greater New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Waco. A concert is scheduled at 6:30 p.m., followed by the worship rally at 7:30 p.m.
- Pastor’s Common for Young Adults at 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Coffee, 203 Halbert Lane in Waco.
The Friends of Truett Seminary Dinner is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Paul L. Foster Business School on the Baylor University Campus. Cost is $25 per person, and registration is required by Nov. 4. To register, click here.
The Wayland Baptist University Alumni and Friends Dinner also is scheduled at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in Lone Star 104 of the Waco Convention Center. Cost is $15 per person, and registration is required by Nov. 10. To register, click here.
Various breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings and receptions also are scheduled on Nov. 14 and 15. For details, including cost and registration information, click here.
Texas Baptist churches can register messengers in advance online here.
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