Guarneri shares clarified calling during executive director’s report

Julio Guarneri, executive director of Texas Baptists, gave his report to the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting messengers and guests during the evening worship session on Monday, Nov. 11. He shared an update from the study group comprised of Texas Baptists staff, pastors, lay people and institutional leaders who had been working over the past year to clarify Texas Baptists’ calling and values.

Guarneri noted the task force is in keeping with Article II of the Constitution of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which states the object of the Convention is to “awaken and stimulate among the churches the greatest possible activity in evangelism, missions, Christian education and benevolent work and enterprises; to cultivate a closer cooperation among the churches and promote harmony of feeling and concert of action in advancing all the interests of the Redeemer’s Kingdom.”

Clarified missional theme and values

Guarneri shared that the new missional theme is “strengthening a multiplying movement of churches to live out the Great Commandment and Great Commission in Texas and beyond.” With that new theme, Guarneri introduced seven values to guide the work of the Texas Baptists in the near future. He also clarified that the study group created the theme and values with the acknowledgment that everything Texas Baptists does is to support local churches.

“We understand that the headquarters of our convention is the local church. We also see our institutions and our missional partners as extensions of the local church and the kingdom of God… Together, we carry out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,” he said.

With that in mind, Guarneri outlined the seven values: biblically-faithful, gospel-centered, historically-rooted, future-thinking, beautifully-diverse, servant-hearted and kingdom-collaborating. 

“These are the values that will inform our work. They describe our unique identity as Texas Baptists,” he said. “We want to be known by what we value.”

GC2 Pathways

Guarneri also outlined a new, two-pronged approach for the GC2 Initiative. GC2 Pathways will focus on churches—meeting them where they are and working together for the kingdom of God—and on connections—working to connect churches to the resources they need to continue their development. Resources may include Texas Baptists programs or ministries or networking with like-minded entities in Texas and beyond. 

This approach is centered around meeting churches at whatever stage they are at. Guarneri identified four stages in the church life cycle: plant, thrive, expand and multiply.

“Whether churches are in the planting stage or ready to thrive, or expanding or multiplying, Texas Baptists wants to come aside and strengthen this movement of GC2 churches,” Guarneri said. 

The clarified mission, values and GC2 pathways are all to help Texas Baptists continue to meet the needs of a growing state. Guarneri shared that by 2050, Texas’ population is projected to double. If nothing changes in the coming years, there will only be one church per approximately 16,000 people in the state.

“A multiplying movement of GC2 churches is not an option; it’s a must. We must reach the nations within Texas… Will you be a part of a multiplying movement of GC2 churches?... Will you adopt God’s kingdom agenda?” Guarneri asked.