BAPTI S T GEN ER A L CO N V E N T I O N O F T E X AS 13 9T H ANNUAL
VOLUME 139, NO. 2 | WACO | NOVEMBER 12, 2024
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 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 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, gospelcentered, historically-rooted, futurethinking, beautifully-diverse, servanthearted 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.” Guarneri also outlined a new, twopronged 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 or multiply. The clarified mission, values and GC2 pathways are all to help Texas Baptists continue meeting the needs of a growing state. Guarneri shared that by 2050, Texas’ population is projected to double.
“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.
Motions 1
Jeff Williams, messenger from First Baptist Church, Denton, brought the following motion: “I move that the Baptist General Convention of Texas affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.”
2
Steve Vernon, messenger from First Baptist Church, Belton, brought the following motion: “I move that the Baptist General Convention of Texas authorize the Executive Board to review and act on its behalf regarding the change of the Baptist University of the Américas’ status from a single-member corporation to a nonmember corporation as registered with the Secretary of State through its Certificate of Formation.”
2024 messengers elect officers, adopt increased budget ‘guided by faith and stewardship’ During the Monday morning business and worship session of the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting, messengers elected Convention officers, heard reports, passed recommendations and introduced motions. East Texas Baptist University’s Lampsato Worship Band led worship, and Meghan Hendrickson, Baptist Student Ministry director at Dallas Baptist University, brought a message from Matthew 13. Ronny Marriott, pastor of First Baptist Church in Richardson, was elected president of the Convention. Marriott was elected first vice president at the Texas Baptists Family Gathering in July 2023 and assumed the role of Convention president in September 2023 after Julio Guarneri, then Convention president, was elected executive director. David Lowrie, messenger for First Baptist Church in Decatur, nominated Marriott.
Debbie Potter, children’s pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, was elected first vice president. She, too, assumed that role in September 2023 after being elected second vice president earlier that same year. Dennis Wiles, messenger for First Baptist Church in Arlington, nominated Potter.
The Texas Baptists Bulletin is published on the second day of the Annual Meeting by the Communications Department of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. This abbreviated Bulletin includes announcements and motions.
Marriott and Potter were unopposed and were elected following a vote by the 1,094 messengers in attendance at the Waco Convention Center.
Julio Guarneri Executive Director Craig Christina Associate Executive Director Ward Hayes Treasurer / CFO / Recording Secretary Joshua Seth Minatrea Director of Communications Coleen Wall Director of Conference & Event Planning Heather Penna Content Manager Caleb Arndt Design Manager Lauren Kendall Graphic Designer Neil Williams Sr. Multimedia Specialist & Coordinator
Joseph Adams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hugh Springs, and Adam Pardue, pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Lubbock, were nominated for second vice president by Clint Davis, messenger from First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and Jason Burden, messenger from First Baptist Church in Lubbock, respectively. Adams won the vote, 446 to 290, and was elected second vice president for the 20242025 term. Additional officer elections will include registration secretary and secretary of the corporation.
read the full story at
txb.org/officers
resolutions WHEREAS Texas Baptists are firmly committed to the Great Commission and Great Commandments given by Christ in Scripture; and, WHEREAS Texas Baptists recognize that the work of the Great Commission and Great Commandments is too big for any one local church and are grateful to God for the past 100 years of partnership mission through the Cooperative Program since 1925; and, WHEREAS Texas Baptists have enjoyed the benefits of partnering together in the ministries of missions, evangelism, church planting, and church strengthening through the funding from the Cooperative Program in Texas Baptist and Southern Baptist life and, WHEREAS Texas Baptists have historically remained committed to the most effective
2025 annual meeting Abilene Convention Center Abilene, TX
Nov. 16-18, 2025
on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the cooperative program
method of collaboration, recognizing we can do more together; and, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that Texas Baptists messengers gathered at the Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas give thanks to God for His blessing through the past 100 years of partnership through the Cooperative Program; and, BE IT RESOLVED that Texas Baptists commit to continue standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us to continue giving through the Cooperative Program; and, BE IT RESOLVED that Texas Baptists will continue to partner together in the work of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission through the Cooperative Program; and,
BE IT RESOLVED that Texas Baptists will teach their church family and generations to come about the importance of partnership mission through the Cooperative Program; and, FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that we ask Almighty God to lead and bless our efforts to pursue His Kingdom Agenda for His glory through the Cooperative Program until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
view the full proceedings at
txb.org/proceedings