SBTC raises percentage for SBC missions, hears from Texas governor

AUSTIN?Messengers to the ninth Southern Baptists of Texas Convention annual meeting voted to increase the percentage of Cooperative Program funding for Southern Baptist Convention mission causes to 54 percent and approved an unprecedented ministry relationship with the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.

Newly re-elected Republican Gov. Rick Perry addressed the meeting at Austin’s Great Hills Baptist Church during the afternoon session Nov. 14, with Perry telling messengers, “I don’t make any bones about it. I’m a Christian.” Perry said churches offer people something government cannot: redemption.

Miles Seaborn, retired pastor of Fort Worth’s Birchman Baptist Church and a former missionary to the Philippines, received the H. Paul Pressler Distinguished Service Award, named in honor of Pressler’s work in the SBC’s conservative theological resurgence and given annually to a Texan who has demonstrated similar leadership at the state or national level.

Seaborn was instrumental in the 1998 formation of the SBTC, which has grown from about 120 churches to more than 1,820. Pressler said he initially “threw cold water” on the idea of a new state convention.

“The fact that we’re here today?over 1,820 churches?a budget that is very strong, a great leadership in giving Cooperative Program funds, a leadership in missions, a leadership in soul winning, is due to the vision of Miles Seaborn. And Miles, I’m grateful for you. You saw it, you understood it, I didn’t. And thank you for leading. I’m very grateful to you.”

Of the 2007 budget of $20.079 million, the remaining 46 percent of CP receipts will fund Texas ministries. The budget is an increase of $778,840, or 4.04 percent, over 2006.