Board approves new missions leader, 84 new affiliated churches

ARLINGTON–Church planting strategist Terry Coy received unanimous support of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Executive Board during its April 29 meeting in Arlington to become director of missions. He replaces Robby Partain, who has held the post since 2001 and recently accepted a position with Bluebonnet Baptist Association in New Braunfels.

Barry Calhoun, an associate in church planting resourcing and mentoring, will become church planting team leader.

Coy initially served as a church planting consultant for the SBTC in 2001, transitioning to full-time duties as ethnic church planting strategist a year later before assuming his current assignment in 2004. He grew up in the home of Southern Baptist missionaries who served in Chile for 35 years.

Following six years with Scope Ministries International, a biblical counseling ministry based in Oklahoma City, Coy earned the M.Div. and Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1992 to 2000 Coy served Tarrant Baptist Association, first as Hispanic consultant and director of the Ethnic Ministry Training Center before becoming director of church planting.

Set on making a convention-wide search for the next missions director, SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards told the board, “I only had to look next door” to Partain’s office for the next director of missions, having observed Coy’s giftedness and expertise in church planting. Coy will retain some of the hands-on duties in the area of church planting in order for the convention to utilize his strengths in that area, Richards explained.

“I want us to be the premier missions team with the most effective pace-setting missions strategies in the Southern Baptist Convention,” Coy told the board, adding that he is determined to see every SBTC church become fully mobilized for Acts 1:8 missions in Texas and beyond.

He described the confidence he places in Calhoun’s ability as a “quality-control man,” making sure systems are in place to supervise and strengthen church planters.

Partain thanked the board, executive director, and missions team for their support, and stated his anticipation of many years of kingdom partnership in Texas. Board chairman Dale Perry prayed for Partain as he begins a new place of service, thanking God that “the SBTC will have many years of multiplying fruit, from seed to seed to seed, because of what Robby has done.”

In response to a question from board member Terry Taylor of Mesquite, Perry confirmed that the vacancy resulting from the promotions of Coy and Calhoun would be filled in the coming months.

The board also elected Chris Enright as an associate in the operations and financial services department. Since 1994 he has worked for GuideStone Financial Resources in retirement operations and strategic marketing. Board member Gregg Simmons of Grapevine commended Enright, having served as his pastor at Memorial Baptist Church.

“The SBTC continues to attract the best and brightest and most deeply spiritual men to come alongside in these positions,” Simmons noted.

The board voted to grant its executive committee permission to conduct interviews with a candidate for language associate in the evangelism department. The candidate would be recommended for the board’s approval by e-mail ballot vote.

The number of affiliating churches continues at a pace of one every other day, with 84 additional congregations approved upon the recommendation of the credentials committee. Troy Brooks, church-minister relations director, told the TEXAN that more churches are choosing to affiliate uniquely than in past years.

One-fifth of the more than 2,000 SBTC churches are dually affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

“The trend is that initial dual affiliation is a first step to unique affiliation,” Brooks said.
Credentials committee chairman Jimmy Pritchard of Forney reported that 19 churches are being removed from affiliation, several of them having merged with other congregations or ceased operation.
Cooperative Program receipts exceeded budget requirements by $2.5 million for 2007, providing twice the surplus reported a year ago. Receipts from local churches for all of the missions offerings are outpacing the previous year’s gifts, with the Reach Texas State Missions Offering expected to pass $1 million in receipts for the first time.

When asked whether the increase in giving could be attributed to newly affiliated churches or greater levels of giving, Davis said, “I think we’re receiving more funds from the churches we have.”
Fewer churches are sending money that has been escrowed, he added.

Verne Hargrave reported on the annual audit conducted by Pickens Snodgrass Koch LLP of Arlington, describing the financial operations of the SBTC as “squeaky clean.” No material adjustments were required and no disagreement was found in the management of accounting practices.

“You should be proud of the way the books, records and administration of the convention are handled,” Hargrave said in presenting the “unqualified” opinion.

Criswell College President Jerry Johnson presented the SBTC with a certificate of induction into the W.A. Criswell Society in recognition of lifetime gifts of more than $1 million. Recalling his own desire while a student to see Baptist churches in Texas supporting a college that “believed the Bible was the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God,” he thanked the more than 2,000 SBTC churches for their support of the work Criswell envisioned for training pastors, missionaries and evangelists.”

The board approved a fraternal relationship with the Baptist Credit Union upon the recommendation of the facilitating ministries committee. Board member Olin Boles of LaRue described the benefits available to SBTC employees and churches, including banking services, student, home, and car loans, as well as investment and retirement accounts. The Dallas-based entity has served Baptist organizations, including employees of GuideStone and First Baptist Church of Dallas, since 1955.

SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards praised outgoing Missions Director Robby Partain as a “brilliant, visionary thinker with a passion for people,” and two other staff members who recently resigned–evangelism associate Brad Bunting who has accepted a pastorate in Jena, La., and Jim Gatliff, a shared ministry strategist, who will serve as director of missions for Hunt Baptist Association.

“In 10 years there have been less than 10 full-time ministry staff leave,” said Richards, noting the increased difficulty of keeping up with the demands on staff as the convention grows exponentially.
“By the end of the year I hope to present a plan to keep the limited bureaucracy pledge and still enhance services to the churches.”

“Staff morale is high. There still is a wonderful, sweet spirit of camaraderie and no turfism,” he commended.

Richards announced that the SBTC will host the annual fellowship meeting of the state executive directors and Baptist editors in 2009.

“This vote of confidence in the SBTC is a loud endorsement of our ministry among the state partners,” he reported. “The SBTC has risen to the top as an example of ministry and missions.”

Plans are underway for the annual state convention meeting in Houston as the SBTC celebrates its 10th anniversary. Richards said the inclusion of an International Mission Board commissioning service provides a highlight worthy of churches attending. “It will be a time for us to introduce another generation to cooperative Baptist work.”

The board approved a proposal to amend the articles of incorporation to move indemnity language to the bylaws, which requires the additional support of messengers at the annual meeting in Houston Nov. 10-11.

The board also approved for consideration by messengers various changes to the constitution and bylaws. The proposed changes clarify affiliation qualifications by stipulating financial support through the Cooperative Program and the process by which affiliation is terminated by the church, SBTC Executive Board or messengers in annual session when resolution through the Credentials Committee is unsuccessful.

An article requiring membership in an SBTC affiliate church was added in reference to persons serving as convention officers or ministry employees or on SBTC boards, committees or agencies. The office of second vice-president was eliminated and duties of the recording secretary, Committee on Nominations, Committee on Committees and Resolutions Committee were clarified. Instructions specifying the number of board members to be added during the early years of growth in the SBCT membership were removed.

The process for terminating the executive director, convention officers, Executive Board members and committee members was further clarified. A reference to compensation of staff was removed while the section on funds was changed to include the purpose of the business and financial plan in governing matters not specified in the bylaws.

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