If Baptists vote with their billfolds, then the referendum on the future of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' budget has more hanging dollars than Florida had hanging chads last fall. The BGCT's first-quarter budget receipts have been tabulated and disbursed.
Income is ahead of the current goal, but it's behind last year's pace.
Gifts to worldwide causes are surpassing the budget, but contributions to Texas causes are lagging behind. On the church front, some traditionally supportive congregations have yet to contribute to the BGCT budget or have contributed only token amounts. But only 93 churches have contacted the BGCT asking to be removed from mailing lists. So, the time we spent waiting to see if George W. Bush defeated Al Gore will seem like a second compared to how long the denominational decision will take Texas churches to determine. Never mind that messengers to the BGCT annual session last fall voted overwhelmingly to approve the new budget that places priority on Texas theological education, Hispanic work and Christian ethics.