DALLAS — The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) may soon endorse chaplains on its own, rather than depending on the Southern Baptist Convention.
About 400 Baptist chaplains serve in Texas. Most are endorsed by the SBC North American Mission Board (NAMB). Texas Baptists began considering becoming an endorsing body, however, after NAMB indicated that new and renewing chaplaincy applicants must affirm doctrines in the 2000 edition of The Baptist Faith and Message.
BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade authorized a nine-
member study group of hospital, military and criminal justice chaplains to report and make recommendations to the convention’s executive board regarding an expanded BGCT role in relation to chaplains.
The BGCT executive board approved the creation of the chaplaincy relations office as part of an organizational restructuring last year. An administrative committee is scheduled to consider a recommendation to set up an endorsing process in late January.
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