In their recent annual meeting in Waco, messengers of the Baptist General Convention of Texas soundly defeated a motion to approve the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message.
In their recent meeting in Dallas, the BGCT Executive Board effectively nullified the convention action by approving a plan to start churches that have to approve the 2000 BFM to obtain start-up money from the North American Mission Board.
The BGCT, now also known as Texas Baptists, repeatedly has affirmed the 1963 BFM as its statement of faith, although somewhere along the way it has been noted some BGCT churches also endorse the 2000 statement. The affirmation does not mean a BGCT-affiliated church has to adopt the 1963 statement. It is only a guide for faith and practice. It is not a creed.
The Southern Baptist Convention requires any church considered a “fully cooperating” SBC church must adopt the 2000 BFM. It has become the SBC creed.
BGCT / NAMB relationship
A year ago, BGCT Executive Director Julio Guarneri told the Executive Board the SBC’s North American Mission Board no longer would fund BGCT church starts in Texas, because the BGCT did not affirm the 2000 BFM, which was underscored by the BGCT action in Waco.
According to a Baptist Standard article published Feb. 18, NAMB and BGCT leaders met earlier this year to “negotiate a new agreement.” No press representatives were allowed in the meetings.
What came out of the meetings, according to the Standard, was a plan, subsequently endorsed by NAMB, to provide a $300,000 grant to the BGCT for planting churches in good standing in the SBC, that is, which sign the 2000 BFM, and the new churches also will be expected to sign the 2000 statement.
There were some other events and information to be provided by NAMB, but the $300,000 seemed to be the big thing, although Guarneri noted it would be only 10 percent of what the BGCT will spend on church starting. If it’s only 10 percent, why not find some other way to provide it instead of getting involved with the SBC and its creedal entanglements?
BGCT’s ‘big tent’
The Standard story said Guarneri noted he had heard concerns the BGCT’s annual meeting vote against affirming the 2000 BFM might mean the BGCT “was moving toward the left” and that churches affirming the 2000 statement might not be welcome in the BGCT. He gave a “resounding no” to both concerns and said the BGCT is a “big-tent” convention that serves all Texas Baptist churches.
In 1963, the SBC and BGCT were conservative conventions. If there has been any movement to the left or right, it hasn’t been by the BGCT. Let the SBC and NAMB go their creedal way. Forget NAMB’s $300,000 bait. In these inflationary times, it looks more like 30 pieces of silver.
Toby Druin is editor emeritus of the Baptist Standard. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.
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