DALLAS (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas is expected to ask Houston Baptist University to rescind its new “fraternal relationship” with the more conservative Southern Baptists of Texas Convention because the relationship “violates the spirit and intent” of the BGCT's longstanding agreement with the university.
The Christian Education Coordinating Board, which represents the BGCT to Baptist-affiliated colleges in the state, also voted May 17 to escrow most BGCT funds for the Houston school. Both of the education board's recommendations will be presented to the BGCT Executive Board May 25.
E. D. Hodo, president of Houston Baptist University, declined to comment May 18 until he had received the recommendation in writing.
Last September, HBU trustees voted to establish a “fraternal relationship” with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, a conservative body with close ties to the Southern Baptist Convention. The university made the decision almost two years after agreeing to “maintain a unique affiliation with the BGCT by not affiliating or establishing a formal relationship with other denominations, conventions, or religious entities.”
“HBU has chosen to relate to a convention that has been publicly critical of the BGCT, that holds certain differing values and convictions from those expressed by the BGCT, and that has openly encouraged churches to divert Cooperative Program funds in ways that have negatively impacted all of the ministries of the BGCT, including the affiliated and related institutions,” said a BGCT committee reviewing the matter.
Houston Baptist is the only BGCT-affiliated university with a relationship to the conservative convention, although most other Texas Baptist-affiliated schools reportedly have been approached about establishing similar relationships.
“Failure on the part of the BGCT to address this violation of the Relationship Agreement,” the committee report says, “… would set a precedent for our other educational and ministry institutions that would not be in the best interests of the BGCT and those institutions.”
The escrowed money totals $581,000 but does not include $169,000 allocated to Houston Baptist for financial aid for ministerial students.
In approving the relationship with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, trustees of HBU affirmed the university's “unique affiliation and relationship” with the BGCT but added a “desire to be open to other Baptist entities in ways that will honor and not violate this unique affiliation.”
In order to affiliate with the conservative Texas convention, institutions and organizations must “hold a high view of scripture” and “be in basic agreement with Southern Baptist distinctives.”
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