Texas Baptist convention spurns seminary exhibit

DALLAS — For the second consecutive year, the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) has turned down a request from a Southern Baptist seminary to exhibit at the convention’s annual meeting in November.

In a letter to Gary Redding, alumni relations director at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, BGCT President Albert Reyes said a committee denied the request because Southwestern Seminary does not meet the following qualification: “The organization must affirm support of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, its mission and leadership.”

In the seminary’s application for exhibit space, Redding maintained that by providing leaders for BGCT churches, Southwestern supports the BGCT mission statement.

“By providing theological education for pastors, staff members, and members of churches affiliated with the BGCT, Southwestern Seminary not only affirms, but assists the BGCT and its leadership in its mission as it ‘encourages, facilitates and connects churches in their work to fulfill God’s mission of reconciling the world to Himself.’”