https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/te ... -s-purposeHere's the convention coverage on Texas Baptists from the
Baptist Standard.Some notable points:
1. About 1,200 messengers registered. That's about 10% of the number that registered when the convention was in Waco back in 1991, when almost 12,000 registered, and even down from the 5,700 in Houston in 1998, which was the first time I attended after returning to Texas since leaving in the 80's.
2. Revenue projections are $37 million, which is about $3 million down from the previous year, and quite a bit below the $65 million that was pretty standard up into the 1990's, prior to the departure of the SBTC.
3. The BGCT still keeps over 70% of its receipts, and gives 29% to worldwide causes. I would guess that's probably among the lowest percentages of the larger state convention bodies, which seem to be drifting toward a 50-50 split with the SBC.
4. Among major state conventions, the BGCT may be the first to divest itself of its headquarters building, and scatter its offices across the state.
5. A motion to move out of the 19th century and go to remote electronic voting failed, again.
6. The convention changed its purpose for annual meeting to include a time of inspiration and motivation. It seems like that's a move intended to help get the attendance back up.
As far as point #3 is concerned, that is the default percentage for gifts which come in undesignated. Churches in the BGCT may now designate their own formula, and most do, given that the amount forwarded on to world mission causes through the SBC is about $15 million annually, not counting Lottie or Annie, almost half of the total budget. I believe the other state convention, the SBCT, is at a 50-50 split, or better, and has been since it formed. But even in that group, the dollars put into the Cooperative Program are declining.