SBTC Executive Board elects officers, makes year-end allocations

ODESSA—The Oct. 30 meeting of the Executive Board of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention included the election of new officers, approval of newly affiliated churches and distribution of reserve funding grants. Board members representing every geographic region of the state also heard reports of ministry through disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Imelda and shootings at El Paso and Midland.

Held the day after the conclusion of the Southern Baptists of Texas annual meeting at First Baptist Church of Odessa, the board re-elected Danny Forshee, pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, as chairman after he was nominated by Todd Kaunitz, pastor of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview.

“It is a blessing to serve on the Executive Board of the SBTC,” Forshee stated. “God richly blessed our meeting in Odessa. He is using the SBTC to impact people’s lives for eternity.”

Forhsee told the TEXAN he was especially moved to hear the reports of the ministries in El Paso and Odessa, adding, “We are truly better and stronger together and able to do so much more for the kingdom when we cooperate with each other.”

Caleb Turner, pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church in Mesquite, nominated Mark Hogan, lay leader at Mission City Church in San Antonio to serve as vice-chairman and Donald Schmidt nominated Turner to serve as secretary. All three officers were elected by acclamation. 

The board approved 13 churches for affiliation with the convention and removed 5 churches based on either a merger with another church, disbanding or a request from the church for removal. The current number of affiliated churches is 2,739. 

Other action by the board included:

Reserve funding grants were approved to cover line item overages, year end Christmas bonuses for staff, upgrades to technological infrastructure, Breathe Deep 2021 retreat for associate ministers and spouses, development of new podcasts, the Better Together Initiative related to Cooperative Program promotion, chaplain ministry, protection benefit endowment, various special projects and up to $150,000 to Jacksonville College.

The Board increased the portion allocated for bonuses in order to account for taxes.

CP receipts through September amounted to $20,116,782, slightly lower than reported at the same point last year. Giving over the past 12 months to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions amounted to $2,866,529 while the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions drew $9,033,450. With only one month reporting, giving to the Reach Texas State Missions Offering amounted to $35,123.