Convención approves amendments, elects officers

MCALLEN—The Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas amended its constitution to include a first-ever reference to a statement of faith—actually two versions of the same document—during its annual meeting in McAllen.

Messengers to the 113th annual meeting of Convención approved a constitutional amendment stating, “We voluntarily adopt the Baptist Faith and Message of 1963 and 2000.”

Previously, the constitution made no reference to a statement of faith, instead simply defining Convención’s membership on the basis of cooperation.

By passing the amendment, Convención was emphasizing its “work with the diverse Hispanic Baptist churches in Texas,” Executive Director Jesse Rincones said.

Convención officers

Messengers to the annual meeting also approved a constitutional amendment extending the initial term of an elected president from two years to three years, with the option of reelection to an additional two years. It also extends the terms for other officers from one year to two years.

Newly elected officers are Edson Lara from Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in McAllen as first vice president, Lydia Ana Lara from Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in McAllen as second vice president and Claudia Treviño from Iglesia Bautista Calvario in San Antonio as secretary.

Sergio Ramos, pastor of The Promise Church in Farmers Branch, continued in the second year of his initial term as president.

Auxiliary presidents are Miryam Chairez from Calvary Baptist Church in Harlingen, Union Femenil Misionera de Texas; Oscar Camacho, Iglesia Embajada de Fe of Dallas, pastors; and Margoth Camacho of Iglesia Embajada de Fe in Dallas, pastors’ wives.

Convención recognized Alcides Guajardo, who has served in ministry more than 50 years, as Presidente Honorifico (Honorary President) of the annual meeting. He served more than three decades with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board in various ministries in Texas and Florida.

Guajardo—a former president of Convención—was pastor of Misión Bautista in George West, Misión Bautista in Ingleside, Misión Bautista in Ennis, Misión Bautista in Bridgeport, Primera Iglesia Bautista in Mineral, New Life Baptist Church in Beeville and Primera Iglesia Bautista Beeville.

He served four associations as associate director of missions—Corpus Christi Baptist Association, El Paso Baptist Association, Greater Orlando Baptist Association and Union Baptist Association.

Four newly approved directors of Convención’s Executive Board are Gary Cook, chancellor of Dallas Baptist University and member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas; Saul Sanchez from Iglesia Casa de Dios in El Paso; Gabriel Cortés from Life Church in San Antonio; and Suzii Paynter March from Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville.

Awards

Rafael Solis from Azle Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth received the Gary Cook Servant Leadership Award.

Criswell College recognized Pastor Roland Lopez and his son Sammy for their combined 85 years of service in ministry.

During the annual meeting, Convención board member Sylvia Villareal recognized several scholarship recipients from several Baptist universities.

• Sarai Segura of Midland, a biology major and music minor, received the Hispanic Christian Leadership Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University.
• Priscilla Alfaro from Mission and Laura Brambila from Garland were selected as recipients of the Hispanic Young Baptist Leadership Scholarship at Dallas Baptist University.
• Arly Suarez, a member of Cockrell Hill Baptist Church in Dallas, and Seth Carpenter and Rony Cruz, both members of First Baptist Church of Kaufman en Español, were named recipients of the Timoteo Scholarship at Criswell College.

Gabriel Cortés, chief of staff at Baptist University of the Américas, delivered the annual sermon. Other featured speakers during the annual meeting included Olber Roblero from Horeb Baptist Church in Brownsville, UFM of Texas President Miryam Chairez, Eder and Denise Ibarra from Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association and Joel Vargas from Triumphant Christian Church in San Antonio.