Four highlights of our upcoming Annual Meeting

It is hard to believe that we are approximately two weeks away from our Texas Baptists Annual Meeting taking place Nov. 10-12 in Waco. I am excited and ready to experience all that God has in store for us as we gather.

The theme for this year is “His Kingdom Agenda” based on Luke 4:18-19. Jesus’ ministry agenda is to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the captives and recovery of sight for the blind. He ushers in the year of the Lord’s favor.

His teaching, his training, his miracles and ultimately, his death and resurrection made possible the good news, the deliverance of the oppressed and the introduction of a new era in redemptive history. It was and continues to be a kingdom agenda!

Today, in the political sphere, in denominational circles, in local churches, schools, businesses, the media and elsewhere, everyone seems to have an agenda. At this year’s annual meeting, we invite you to pause and consider not anyone else’s agenda but Jesus’ kingdom agenda. It is worthwhile and long-lasting!

You may notice that this year, our first convention session will take place on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Waco Convention Center. Before our Sunday night session, simultaneous rallies for the African American Fellowship, Texas Baptists en Español and the Millennial/Gen Z Ministers Network (The Pastor’s Common) will meet from 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

I am excited and very grateful about our session speakers, who will each address an aspect of the theme “His Kingdom Agenda,” as well as our worship leaders. Additionally, we will have a number of relevant breakout sessions addressing topics of interest.

In addition to these great aspects of our time together and our important business, allow me to highlight four special items: I will be delivering my first report as your executive director on Monday evening. I will give an update on a process of assessment and strategic thinking. We hope to bring clarity to our GC2 initiative and our overall mission as Texas Baptists.

In addition, as part of my report and the advance of the GC2 initiative, we will be signing partnership agreements with about eight different entities at the national and international levels. We currently have about twenty-five partnerships of this kind. Some we will renew. Others will continue as is. And we will add some new ones.

Monica Guarneri and Tracy Christina will host a dessert fellowship for ministers' spouses on Monday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mayborn Museum on the Baylor University campus (1300 S. University Parks Dr). BGCT First Lady Robin Marriott and Baylor University First Gentleman Brad Livingstone will be the featured speakers. Light refreshments will be served.

An important item of business has to do with the opportunity for Texas Baptists to provide insurance for our churches at an affordable rate. Dr. Ward Hayes has led a process of research and assessment. Our executive board has affirmed the feasibility study, and our messengers will have an opportunity to act on forming a corporation for this purpose during our business portion.

Finally, we will have a panel discussion considering biblical perspectives on women in ministry. It will take place at the Waco Convention Center immediately following the Tuesday morning session. There will be complimentary box lunches for the first 500 people. We have put together an excellent panel from academic and practitioner fields who reflect the diversity of our Texas Baptists family. I will moderate this respectful dialogue while upholding the autonomy of the local church.

I encourage you to do three things in anticipation of our annual meeting: pray that God will be honored in everything we do, register here and download the Texas Baptists app so you can have real-time information and updates on all things Annual Meeting! To learn more about the annual meeting, click here.