Across the state of Texas, more than 5,000 cooperating churches form a vibrant family bound together by a shared devotion to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
For generations, Texas Baptists have partnered in mission, education, and ministry, demonstrating the profound strength of voluntary cooperation. Yet, as our culture navigates complex theological and ethical waters, the need for clarity regarding our shared convictions has never been more vital.
In recognition of that need, the Texas Baptist Confession of Faith Project will be introduced to messengers in a motion on Nov. 16 to the 2026 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Waco. The project represents an historic initiative to articulate our common heritage and provide a unified theological foundation for future generations.
Who we are: A collaborative Baptist process
At its heart, this initiative is crafted by Texas Baptists, for Texas Baptists. The proposed process will be deliberately inclusive, bringing together theological reviewers, academics, local pastors, designated readers, and the BGCT Executive Board to review each proposed article individually.
For congregations wary of top-down mandates, it is essential to emphasize this project will honor the sacred legacy of Baptist ecclesiology. Local application and discernment of the Lord’s leadership belong unconditionally to each local church under Christ; they are not permissions granted by a convention.
The confession will not replace or override local church autonomy, nor will it diminish the priesthood of all believers. Instead, it will offer a collective testimony, a working proposal subject to the convention’s consideration, and action that reflects the shared convictions sustaining our cooperative work.
What it is: One unified statement of enduring conviction
Unlike documents that separate belief from action, the proposed confession will be one unified document without division into separate “faith” and “practice” categories.
As mentioned on the new website, its 20 proposed articles are designed to express enduring biblical principles rather than positions tied to passing political elections, statutes, or temporary controversies.
The draft articles will encompass core historical doctrines including the triune God, the Scriptures, humanity, salvation, God’s purpose of grace, the church, ordinances, the Lord’s day, and religious liberty.
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At the same time, the project will speak with biblical clarity to contemporary frontiers that previous generations never faced. By addressing modern topics such as sexual ethics; the sanctity of life; medical ethics, including genomics and eugenics; and artificial intelligence, the confession will equip believers, pastors, and churches to engage modern cultural shifts with redemptive clarity.
Why now: Fulfilling our legacy and meeting modern challenges
To understand the epic importance of this moment, one must look at our historical trajectory.
Surprisingly, Texas Baptists have never possessed a confession of faith uniquely their own. For decades, our churches relied on the Baptist Faith and Message published by the Southern Baptist Convention.
Today, however, Texas Baptist churches find themselves divided in practice. Many hold to the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message, while others adopt the 2000 revision. Neither document was written by Texas Baptists, and neither document addresses the urgent questions confronting our churches today.
This project is not a sudden departure or novelty. In 2010, convention messengers formally voted to begin crafting a confession. Although the scheduled 2020 review was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this proposal will simply pick up the torch our family of churches chose to pursue.
A shared place to stand
This process invites Texas Baptists not into division, but into deeper unity. By anchoring our fellowship in one unified confession written by and for Texas Baptists, we can ensure our 5,000 churches continue to stand shoulder to shoulder, equipped for faithful ministry and clear in our witness to the world.
We humbly ask messengers to the 2026 BGCT annual meeting to approve this process.
Dr. Michael Evans Sr. is senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield and a past-president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. This opinion article represents the views of the organizers of the Texas Baptist Confession of Faith Project.
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