February Board approves church starting arrangement, insurance program launch and affirms traditional Baptist beliefs in affiliation process

The February meeting of the Texas Baptists Executive Board was held on Feb. 17-18 in Dallas, TX. Board directors heard ministry reports and passed recommendations related to the NAMB/Texas Baptists church planting arrangement, the continued practice of welcoming churches that affirm traditional Baptist beliefs, the creation of a Texas Baptists Insurance Program and more. 

Guarneri: Acts church and ‘focusing our strategy’ for the next season of ministry

During his Monday evening address, Executive Director Julio Guarneri spoke from a passage in the book of Acts and updated board directors on progress made through the “clarified calling” process. 

Referencing Acts 1:8, Guarneri identified three priorities that are helpful in “focusing our strategy” as we gain clarity on the direction God is calling Texas Baptists to in the next season of ministry. He said Texas Baptists wants to focus on leaders–connecting ministers and ministerial development; churches–strengthening and multiplying churches; and missions– partnering for missions and missional engagement. 

“The primary strategy in Acts was the starting and the strengthening of churches, and what Paul did [is] he planted churches and then he came back and strengthened them. A multiplying movement of church pastoral leadership was developed for disciple making,” said Guarneri. “As Texas Baptists, we want to seek the power of the Holy Spirit as we move forward. We want to pay attention to the adverse circumstances that are around us so that we can see the opportunities for the gospel… [and] new ways to participate in Kingdom advancement that maybe didn’t exist 50 or 100 years ago, but are opportunities today.”

Guarneri shared seven values that he said are “guiding our work as we step into the future.” The values included: Biblicially-faithful, Gospel-centered, Historically-rooted, Future-thinking, Beautifully-diverse, Servant-hearted and Kingdom-collaborating.

Guarneri also shared a brief update on the ongoing discussions between NAMB and Texas Baptists regarding church starting in Texas. He said after in-person meetings and emails with NAMB’s president and Texas Baptists leaders and pastors “we believe that we have arrived at an agreement.” 

He pointed out that NAMB trustees approved the agreement two weeks before and that the Texas Baptists executive board would be able to vote on the arrangement during the next day’s session.

While the new arrangement did not result in significant financial changes, Guarnier said “it does provide clarity moving forward.”

Guarneri also updated the board on the 2024 Annual Meeting, highlighting the signing of partnership agreements with several National Baptist conventions and with the Baptist World Alliance. He told the board that several staff members will attend the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Brisbane, Australia, this summer to discuss the formation of the Global Baptist Missions Network, which will do missions and strategically connect national Baptist conventions as they’re sending missionaries “from everywhere to everywhere.”

Staff in attendance will also explore the BGCT’s role in Project 2033, a strategy for finishing the Great Commission by 2033. 

“We hope that by our annual meeting in Abilene, we can roll out a plan where churches can join and say, ‘This is what we’ll do,’” said Guarneri. 

Marriott: ‘We must remain faithful’ 

In his Tuesday morning address, Convention President Ronny Marriott spoke about who Baptists in Texas are as Kingdom citizens and exiles. Referencing Daniel 1, he said while Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in exile, they “remained faithful even in the small things” and God poured out favor on them.

Marriott highlighted that “our obedience is strengthened in times of struggle,” and the key to being obedient to what God is leading us to do as a convention is to remain faithful to the Lord. 

“As we stand up as Texas Baptists, what we believe God is calling us to do, we are going to gain opposers. There’s going to be opposition to try to stop us. We’re going to have to take some risks. It may put us into the fire, but our God is with us. The key is we must remain faithful to him,” said Marriott.

Cooperative Program still ‘best vehicle’ for spreading the Gospel

Ward Hayes, Texas Baptists CFO/Treasurer, delivered a financial update.

The convention’s cash position was strong at the close of last year, with $14.4M spread across multiple accounts. Endowments and investments were at $255M, and the reserve fund was at $7.9M.

Cooperative Program (CP) receipts declined slightly in 2024, closing out the year at 98.4% of the prior year and 96% of the approved budget.

Expenditures were less than budgeted by $612K, even after $828K was set aside for cost of living and insurance adjustments for staff per a previous board recommendation.

Hayes expressed gratitude for church giving to CP while noting the reality of a ten-year trend of giving decline. He reported that CP declined $4M over ten years, averaging about $400K annually. 

“We still believe this to be the best vehicle to reach the lost,” Hayes said, “but we want to share that reality with you.” He noted the importance of exploring alternative funding sources. “We need more to continue to do the same, and so we thank you for your partnership in doing that.” 

During his report, Hayes introduced Cooperative Program director Clay Jacobson. Jacobson said, “No other Baptist organization is doing more to reach the lost in Texas than we are…we can only do that more together. We are better together.”

Special mission offerings were mostly flat in 2024 compared to the previous year, with Annie Armstrong up about $100K to $3.4M. The Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, and Texas Baptists Hunger Offering were flat at $3.3M, $8.7M, and $.5M, respectively. 

Sector changes, affiliation practice affirmed, NAMB/BGCT arrangement and insurance program launch

The board considered four recommendations from the Executive Committee during the Tuesday business session.

The first sought to update sectors for executive board directors per the BGCT Bylaws and recommended that board members from sectors with changes be allowed to fulfill their current terms with the sector adjustment accomplished by attrition. The recommendation passed.

The board also voted to affirm the convention’s continued practice of welcoming into harmonious cooperation churches that hold “traditional Baptist beliefs” as represented in either the 1963 or 2000 Baptist Faith and Message (BFM) or other similar confessions of faith.

Though a motion to adopt the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message failed to pass at the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting, the longstanding practice of the convention has been to welcome churches regardless of which BFM version they affirm. The board voted to affirm that continued practice.

The board also passed a recommendation to adopt the BGCT and NAMB agreement regarding church starting in Texas. The four-point agreement outlines access to NAMB church planting, training and coaching resources for Texas Baptists churches, changes to the designation and disbursement of the $300K annual grant provision from NAMB to BGCT, the availability of Planter Pathway training events for Texas Baptists churches, and ongoing communications efforts with Texas Baptists churches and associations in Texas.

During his Monday evening remarks, Guarneri clarified, “If a qualifying sending church and church starter want to plant a church in Texas with NAMB resources and funding, they do not need to join another state convention to do so.” 

Similarly, the Texas Baptists church starting process continues to be an option for church planters who do not necessarily prefer to use the NAMB resources, with Guarneri saying “they will find sufficient resources and funding with us.”

The board also passed a recommendation to appoint the initial slate of officers and board of directors for the Texas Baptists Insurance Program and approve the funding of the initial reserve/investment.

Hayes said the function of this insurance program is to “put forward best practices” in “helping the church.”

The board approved the program launch, and it is on track to be available to affiliated churches by June or July of this year.

Additional Business

• The following individuals were elected to fill vacancies on councils, committees and boards of affiliated ministries: Committee to Nominate Boards of Affiliated Ministries (CNBAM): Cynthia Jaquez, Segunda Iglesia Bautista, Corpus Christi
• The following recommendation was also passed: To allocate 2025 JK Wadley Endowment Fund Earnings as needed to BSM Campus Missionaries and building maintenance, Western Heritage and MinistrySafe.