Texas Baptists unlikely to leave convention

DALLAS — Texas Baptists’ top executive says he doesn’t foresee the moderate-leaning state organization cutting ties with the conservative-led Southern Baptist Convention.

"I am a Southern Baptist,” said Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. “I intend to be a Southern Baptist. The BGCT intends to cooperate with the SBC. We will continue to work with them any way we can.” Wade met for more than three hours April 19 with 69 of the state’s 72 directors of associational missions, who had requested the meeting with the new executive. Wade, explaining the DOMs were asked to e-mail questions for discussion prior to the meeting, said: “The biggest question has to do with where we are headed with the SBC. From your e-mails, that is the biggest issue on your minds.”

“I am going to work to try to help Texas Baptists work with anyone who wants to work with us and to do God’s work,” Wade said. “I never see a time when we will say we are no longer Southern Baptist. I do not foresee us doing that.”

Wade disputed charges that the BGCT is not cooperating with the SBC. “We send more than 20 percent of the dollars received by the SBC and then get accused of not trying to be partners,” he said. “That is ludicrous. That is a red herring to threaten and frighten the churches.”