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HOUSTON—Two of the core values of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC)—being kingdom-focused and missionally driven—took center stage at the convention’s annual meeting at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Nov 10-11. Messengers were challenged to join the Reach Houston church planting and church revitalization initiative, approved a motion to forward 2016 budget surplus directly to the Cooperative Program, and joined together with the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas (BMAT) for a historic worship gathering.
Reach Houston
The SBTC officially launched its Reach Houston initiative, which is a plan to increase church planting and revitalization in the Greater Houston area. Experts say Houston is the most ethnically diverse megacity in the United States, surpassing even New York City, and should eclipse Chicago as the third-largest city in the country by 2020.
In a video presentation on the new initiative, Houston pastors voiced their support of the initiative. Admitting that Houston already has many churches, Champion Forest Baptist Church Pastor David Fleming said, “We could start a new church every week running 2,000 in attendance and still not keep up with the growth that is happening right here in Houston.”
SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards believes a strategic focus on the city is needed, so a search is currently underway for a Reach Houston coordinator to live in the city and direct church planting and revitalization efforts. Former SBTC missions director Terry Coy was presented as interim coordinator as the search continues.
During its meeting following the annual meeting, the convention’s executive board formally approved a recommendation to set aside $1 million to facilitate returning IMB missionaries as church planters or church revitalizers for the convention’s Reach Houston initiative.
Joint Worship Service with BMAT
SBTC President Jimmy Pritchard welcomed representatives from the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas to a historic joint worship service on the closing night of the annual meeting. The gathering exemplified the annual meeting theme of “Walking in Unity,” drawn from Ephesians 4.
In addition to sharing in the support of two institutions, Pritchard told messengers from both groups, “We share a mutual commitment that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God, hold to the truth that marriage is defined in the Bible as one man and one woman mutually committed in relationship till death parts them, are together on the right of the unborn for life, and are both confessional fellowships.”
He reminded those gathered that “SBTC and BMAT together with the Lord Jesus Christ can be really strong in this difficult day in which we live, sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
BMAT was founded in 1899 by 45 churches that left the Baptist General Convention of Texas over a perception that the board structure might override the autonomy of local churches. Five years ago BMAT and SBTC approved a working ministry relationship based on their shared affirmation of a high view of Scripture and basic Baptist distinctives.
Read more about this historic gathering here.
Panel Discussion
A panel discussion consisting of SBC agency heads, an attorney, and several Texas pastors explored the relationship between churches and the state as the cultural landscape continues to change and move away from Christian values.
Allowing for the natural conflict between Christians and the world, the panelists agreed civil disobedience could be necessary at times, but they differed on when to initiate intentional pushback to ungodly encroachments.
If the cultural or legal mandate is in direct contradiction with Scripture then, yes, Christians should stand in opposition to it, GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins said, adding they must be willing to deal with the consequences of their actions.
“This is an issue that ought to be nuanced,” Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Jason Allen added. “We don’t want to gin ourselves up to be makeshift anarchists or insurrectionists where we kind of shoot from the hip.”
Pastors should take particular care to guard their pulpits, said Steve Washburn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pflugerville. With few constitutional limits pastors can preach about all manner of people and issues, including politics. But politicians cross a line when they presume to speak about the morals of God.
Read the full story related to this panel discussion here.
Resolutions
Messengers passed eight resolutions during the meeting. Resolutions addressed the Texas legislature’s Pastor Protection Bill and defunding of Planned Parenthood as well as personal holiness, sexual purity in marriage, love for all people, the dignity of human life and the sufficiency of Scripture. Resolutions were also approved to express appreciation to outgoing SBTC president Jimmy Pritchard and to Champion Forest Baptist Church for hosting the meeting.
Read a full story on the resolutions here.
Budget
Messengers approved a 2016 budget of $27,743,629, which is less than a 1 percent increase from 2015. This budget is funded by $27,391,629 in Cooperative Program gifts and $352,000 from partnerships with the North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources.
As part of the budget proposal, messengers approved a recommendation from the convention’s executive board to send 100 percent of all 2016 Cooperative Program receipts that exceed the budget to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program.
The convention continues to send 55 percent of its budget for SBC Cooperative Program ministries—the highest percentage of any Baptist state convention—while designating 45 percent for Cooperative Program ministries in Texas.
Election of Officers
Nathan Lino, pastor of Northeast Baptist Church in Humble was elected convention president. Dante Wright, pastor of Sweet Home Baptist Church in Round Rock, was elected vice president. Juan Sanchez, pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, was elected recording secretary. All nominees ran unopposed.
Attendance
Final attendance numbers included 775 registered messengers from 263 churches and 945 registered guests for a total of 1,720 registered in attendance from 303 churches.
2016 Annual Meeting
The 2016 Bible Conference and Annual Meeting of the SBTC will take place on Nov. 13-15 at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin. Messengers approved Gregg Matte, pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church, to deliver the 2016 convention sermon, with, Cody Whitfill, pastor of River Valley Christian Fellowship in Bastrop, as the alternate.
