Lee Saunders, Associate pastor of Garden Oaks Baptist Church (Houston) former 1st-VP candidate of BGCT, has proposed three major constitutional and bylaw changes for the BGCT. Saunders plans to put forth his proposals at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in November.
Saunders’ proposals are rather restrictive to say the least. See below:
Amendments to the constitution will be proposed which will aim at doing the following:
1. An amendment will be proposed which limits the number of members of any particular BGCT church serving on the boards and committees of the BGCT to one at a time. For example, if your church has a member serving on the UMHB board of trustees, it cannot have any additional members on any other boards of any affiliated institutions, or any BGCT board.
2. An amendment will be proposed which limits the number of terms that any individual can serve as a member of a BGCT board or committee, or member of the board of an affiliated institution to two. Once someone has served two terms on any BGCT related board, they are no longer eligible for service on any other board.
3. An amendment will be proposed which prevents spouses of individuals who have served or are serving on boards from being nominated to serve on any board or committee of the BGCT or its related institutions. This means that if your husband or wife has served their customary terms on any board, you are not eligible to serve.
And here’s Saunders on why these proposals are needed:
Baptist conventions have a built in system of self-preservation when it comes to making any kind of change. The procedures for making changes in their constitutions and bylaws require advance notification at convention meetings and in most cases, two thirds votes at consecutive annual meetings in order to be implemented. Within the process of presentation itself, there are places where those who desire to resist the changes, for whatever reason, can do so. Generally, those who serve on the committees through which such recommendations must go are in a position to derail changes. With that in mind, there are a couple of changes I would like to propose for the BGCT’s consideration beginning in November.
There have been times when the constitution and bylaws of the BGCT have been altered to change the makeup of the convention’s leadership in response to criticism related to influence peddling, and entrenched, bureaucratic leadership that represents only a narrow perspective in the convention, controlled by a small group of people through personal relationships. At some point, the executive board and trustee boards were opened up to broader representation of lay people, with a percentage of seats allocated for those who were not in vocational ministry, because of the perception that pastors were dominating the show. I believe there is now a perception, and it can be demonstrated to be accurate with evidence, that a narrow group of individuals calls the shots in the BGCT. In November, some proposals will be made to change bylaws and the constitution to end the ability of a small interest group to control the convention’s boards and committees and put a stop to the ability of certain people to rotate from board to board, committee to committee. In addition, these proposals will open up the opportunity to serve the BGCT in leadership to individuals in churches all across the state.
And to folks like myself who believe that these proposals are too restrictive and downright unfair, Saunders says:
There are those who will say this won’t work, or it is not fair, or it is too restrictive, or it cannot be done. They will likely be those who do not see a problem with a single agenda controlling the convention, or with the influence peddling and the good ole boy system that is currently in place and which, IMHO, is at least partly responsible for the perceptions which have helped create a divide in Texas Baptist life, and a drop off in financial support for the cooperative ministries that the BGCT operates. Generally, I expect that opposition to the proposals will come from those who are in a position to benefit the most from being involved in the good ole boy system as it currently exists.
The fact of the matter is that even though our membership figure of more than 2 million is probably not representative of our actual participation or active membership, limiting churches to one member at a time on boards and limiting individuals to two terms on any board, as well as excluding spouses of those who have served, will only broaden the leadership tent. It would take a long, long time to exhaust the available human resources. And it is conceivable that many of those who would be brought into leadership service couldn’t care less about being politically correct, and would actually serve the best interests of Texas Baptists and their institutions, rather than considering themselves representatives of a particular agenda.
Saunders concludes that his proposed constitutional changes will be welcomed by Texas Baptists if they are “fairly communicated” to the messengers.
Follow the comment thread at Saunders’ blog as well as the discussion at BaptistLife.com where Saunders goes by the handle “Sandy.”
It’s worth noting that these proposed changes are undoubtedly aimed at those BGCT congregations which support the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. His attitude towards the CBF is reflected in the comment thread. Saunders writes:
…my observation of CBF has been that it is more exclusive, restrictive and protective with regard to both its partnerships and its leadership than either the SBC or the SBTC.
Saunders’ proposals also take aim at CBF-affiliated congregations such as Wilshire Baptist in Dallas. Here is Saunders on Wilshire and their pastor.
We have one church here in Texas which, counting a state convention officer that is a member, has something like 12 members on boards and committees, and an associate pastor who actually was serving in three separate positions simultaneously. It’s not because they are such a great collection of sharp minds and qualified leaders, it is because their pastor is an influence peddler, and a member of a particular group that happens to have its hands firmly gripped on the steering wheel. That is elitism of the finest, best developed kind and it causes the whines and pleas of BGCT leadership for more money (along with the accompanying criticism that churches who don’t ante up are being disloyal and “unsupportive of missions”) to fall on deaf ears.
Note that Saunders never explicitly names names but one not need be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. We’ll have to wait and see what becomes of these restrictive proposals.
How did you know I was speaking of Wilshire?
I don’t know anything about the BGCT, but I like the sound of those rules (though maybe extending the number of terms a bit depending on what a “term” is). I’m not sure if we have similar rules in the SBC and state conventions, but if we don’t I wish we did. I think it would open the SBC up to more varied ideas and force out a lot of the mob bosses and their goons controlling everything. Younger leaders might actually become more prominent in areas of influence if we had rules like this.
With the mention of the church having a BGCT officer, it wasn’t hard to figure out.
You obviously weren’t complaining about David Lowrie. Nor were you talking about Broyles in Ballinger, Texas. I knew you were referring to Carolyn Strickland, a deacon at Wilshire. Also, you’ve written about Strickland last Fall and, I believe, have made similar comments about the number of people that serve from Wilshire.
And I don’t think anyone would deny that George Mason has been a visible leader in Texas Baptist life and CBF life for a number of years now.
Blake,
These rules are overly restrictive and ultimately would exclude good people who do care about the BGCT. The spouse rule in particular would have the effect of being anti-women. If implemented, I’m pretty confident that there would be less gender diversity not greater diversity. I don’t think that’s Lee’s intent though.
These rules assume that there are hundreds if not thousands of Texas Baptists who truly desire to be actively involved in denominational life. Given the low attendance at yearly annual meeting, I just don’t see a grassroots push by the uninvolved to be involved. These rules also assume that a strong sense of denominational identity still exists throughout the state of Texas among Baptists. People do still give their money to Texas Baptists causes but there is no doubt that denominationalism has declined in this increasinly post-denominational era. Some of Lee’s proposals might be better suited for a time that has left us.
Blake, you do bring up a great point about the involvement of young leaders. I think that may be a different conversation. But obviously, if state conventions (and other Baptist groups) want to survive, they are going to have to reach out to young Baptists especially the young professionals. Outside of Texas – in the moderate Baptist world – I see Baptist organizations reaching out to young ministers. But it’s not young ministers that will keep the lights on in Atlanta and elsewhere. It’s young laypeople – the young professionals. State conventions and other Baptist groups are going to have to start doing a better job of reaching out to the young laity in addition to seminarians. I know that I’m not the only person who has been frustrated by the lack of outreach efforts to the young professionals while the young seminarians are extended a variety of exciting opportunities (scholarships to attend conferences, etc.).
Perhaps this should be the topic of my next blog post.
Blake,
The SBC doesn’t have such policies in place and as a result, there is a long list of individuals who are more or less perpetual fixtures on the trustee boards. I am aware of a few state conventions with term limits, and some, including the BGCT which prescribe a specific number of seats for laypeople as opposed to clergy. I don’t recall when that change was made, but there was some hollering about its restrictiveness and limitations then, too.
BDW,
I didn’t mean to be quite so clear about whether the state convention officer was current or past, since there is more than one BGCT church that would fit that description. You’re probably a lot more up on BGCT politics than most people are but in drawing this particular conclusion, you have given a perfect illustration as to exactly why these changes are necessary.
For the sake of discussion, suppose I had proposed, on my blog, to make these same constitutional changes to the SBC constitution? Would your reaction, honestly, have been different? There are several people who have been on SBC boards and committees almost perpetually since 1979, and several examples of churches with multiple members on boards, as well as several husband/wife tag teams, and at least one I can think of who serve simultaneously. Had I been planning to go to Louisville, I’d have adapted my amendments to fit in the proper place in the SBC constitution, though getting them through there would be a much tougher proposition.
You are correct, though the spouse rule can work both ways. I don’t think that if the nominating committee were required to replace every board and committee member every eight or twelve years they would be able to overlook women, Hispanics, African Americans, Asians or Baptists who make up even the smallest ethnic or demographic groups.
Far from being “restrictive,” the number of people brought into convention leadership would quadruple.
The point you made regarding young professionals becoming involved is well taken. So check the median age of those in denominational leadership now. Many younger people are excluded because they are not well connected and the nominations go to individuals who are older because they keep being re-nominated. Those few younger people who have become involved tend to be members of the churches where whole groups of members are on boards. Though inexpensive technology is available, the convention still conducts its business by requiring messengers to travel to the convention city, pay for a hotel and food, and this generally eliminates the younger members of churches with families who are just starting out and work full time during the middle of the week. They can think of better ways to use their vacation time. If the convention were webcast, and messengers could vote electronically, a lot more young people would participate. But that would require at least as much of a major change as I am proposing, if not more.
BDW and Lee,
Thanks for this info. As a former BGCT-er, I knew George Mason was a “favored son” but didn’t know the extent of the positions held by his church members.
I had predicted Mason to be Charles Wade’s successor, but can see now that might actually be a step down in power-wielding.
I’ll watch with interest the results of your reform efforts, Lee.
BDW, when you recommend reaching out to the young professionals, do you mean for Baptist pastorates, convention staff, or what?
The young professionals are in the pews and not the pulpit on Sunday mornings. I meant that pretty much all Baptist organizations need to do a better job of intentionally attracting young professionals to participate in the ministries, programs and official affairs of their organizations.
Karen, I think it is strange that you focus on pastorates and staff… As Baptists, we need to do a better job of engaging LAY LEADERS. Including young professionals. We need them (us) to be encouraged to be on church committees, to be deacons, to be sent to conventions. We need to be engaged not because we are PAID to do it, but because we are called to it, because we believe in it. It is called the priesthood of the believer, and my generation needs to be reminded why it matters. Ministry can happen through laity.
sorry- that comment was from Alexis, not BDW. I was on his computer.
The emphasis on professionals part was what confused me.
I am glad that you said we need to do a better job of engaging lay leaders, including professionals. I am concerned that we may overlook the spiritual gifts of people who are not professionals. Some of them feel excluded or maybe overlooked. Meanwhile the professionals know that if they get on a committee they’ll get asked to do everything and become overwhelmed.
It’s the same issue that Lee has taken up, except at the local church level– overcoming barriers to effective service and use of spiritual gift, bringing in new voices, broadening leadership, building strength, avoiding ruts and burnout.
[...] Back in May, I wrote a post about major (restrictive) constitutional and by-law changes for the Baptist General Convention of Texas being proposed by Lee Saunders, former 1st-VP candidate of BGCT and Associate pastor of Garden Oaks Baptist Church (Houston). Read more about those here. [...]
I am saddened to hear of Lee’s being moved to another convention and the loss of his good mind and fair intellect to our tenuous survival. He has certainly given us something to consider, for here I was thinking I would respond to another blogger’s recent question “What is your idea?” with a now apparently untimely “I like Lee’s idea.”