Churches outside Texas that affiliate with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) now will be allowed to serve on convention committees and boards.
Messengers to the BGCT annual session approved the change Oct. 30 in Corpus Christi. With only scattered opposition, messengers gave the required second affirmation to a constitutional amendment that removes geographical limitations on nominees for convention committees and boards.
The Texas convention has not previously limited churches outside the state from joining the convention and already counts about a half dozen congregations from other states among its cooperating churches. Those churches generally are in border communities.
Speculation has escalated over the past year, however, that the BGCT could become a refuge for moderate Baptist churches nationwide as some state Baptist conventions align more closely with the conservative direction of the Southern Baptist Convention. Critics of the BGCT have charged the Texas convention is transforming itself into a new national convention.
Texas Baptist leaders, however, have said they have no intention of actively recruiting churches from outside the state. If churches from other states desire to seek affiliation with the BGCT, they will be welcome as they always have been, the convention leaders have said. (ABP)
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