Messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting next week will vote on a $34.6 million budget, elect officers and consider a variety of motions, including a measure to create a task force to increase Millennial and Generation Z involvement in Texas Baptist life.
The meeting’s hybrid format allows messengers to participate online via Zoom or in person at the Galveston Island Convention Center.
Featured speakers at the 2021 annual meeting in Galveston, Nov. 14-16, include Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College; Samuel C. Tolbert Jr., president of the National Baptist Convention of America; and Thom Rainer, founder and CEO of Church Answers.
Worship leaders include soloist Keron Jackson; Cecile Dagohoy; the Singing Men of Southeast Texas; the Celebration Choir from First Baptist Church in Nederland; Schola Cantorum from Houston Baptist University; and the choir, orchestra and praise team from Kingsland Baptist Church.
Workshop topics include “Race and Reform,” “Family Worship,” “Resolving Conflict” and “Next Steps for the Post-Pandemic Church.”
Business on the agenda
Messengers to the annual meeting will consider a proposed $34,588,280 total Texas budget for 2022, a $321,592 increase over the 2021 budget.
The proposed 2022 budget, recommended by the BGCT Executive Board, projects a $32.8 million net Texas budget based on Cooperative Program giving and investment income. The budget depends on $27.37 million in Texas Cooperative Program receipts from churches.
The recommended 2022 budget anticipates slightly more than $5.4 million in investment income. It also anticipates more than $1.77 million in additional revenue from conference and booth fees, product sales and other sources.
At this point, no contested races for convention office have been announced.
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Incumbent President Jason Burden, pastor of First Baptist Church in Nederland, and First Vice President Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, will be nominated for reelection.
Nebiye Kelile, pastor of both Pathway Church and Orchard Hills Baptist Church in Garland, will be nominated for second vice president.
At least one motion from the floor of the annual meeting is anticipated. Chris McLain, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bandera, announced he will introduce a motion asking Texas Baptists to form and fund a task force to involve Millennials and Generation Z in Texas Baptist life in greater ways.
Meetings and rallies scheduled on Nov. 14 in conjunction with Texas Baptists’ annual meeting include:
- Devoted at the Pier, a gathering for Millennial and Generation Z Texas Baptists, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 2501 Seawall Blvd.
- A concert featuring the Singing Men of Southeast Texas, with guest soloist Keron Jackson, at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Galveston.
- The African American Worship Rally from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 14 at West Point Missionary Baptist Church in Galveston.
The Texas Baptists en Español Celebration begins with an opening service from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Nov. 12 at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Galveston. Leadership workshops are scheduled at the same location from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 13. A 6 p.m. banquet and 7 p.m. celebration with featured speaker Julio Guarneri are scheduled Nov. 14 in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church in Galveston.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was edited online Nov. 10 to reflect updated information regarding the motion by Chris McLain.
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