Future of Texas Baptists Hinges on First Female or Second-Generation President

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, October 28, 2007

Baptists from across Texas open a historic meeting on Monday that will elect either the state convention's first female or second-generation president.

One local church member is betting on the former, although she is happy with either one as the next head of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) – the largest Baptist group in Texas, representing 2.3 million members.

"I think either one is very capable, fine people, but I think Joy will probably be elected," said Charlotte Moody of First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, according to The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "I think being a woman will not be held against her. After all, she does have credentials."

Joy Fenner, executive director emeritus of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas and a former missionary, is running on a platform to enforce missions, which is the annual meeting's focus. She's also on the ballot to validate the leadership of women at the conventional level, she said in an interview with The Baptist Standard, the state convention's newspaper.

Texas is among the top three states with the highest number of women pastors and co-pastors, according to the latest Baptist Women in Ministry report.

David Lowrie, son of a former BGCT president, meanwhile, wants to bring unity and healing to Texas Baptists and lead the convention toward cooperation.

"I believe our convention faces a critical crossroads and as we go into the future, I believe we need to look at the future through fresh eyes and with a fresh voice calling us to action," said Lowrie, who was also interviewed by the Baptist news publication.

"I believe we have lost connection with many of our churches. During the days of in-fighting, too many of our people watched from the sidelines but were not active participants in the solution; at times they felt like no one was listening."

If elected, Lowrie brings to the president's office the unique perspective of a second-generation Baptist particularly when they are losing young Baptists.

"[W]e are losing a generation of young leaders who believe the BGCT is out-of-touch and irrelevant. Our younger generations came to those unfortunate conclusions by growing up watching us fight among ourselves for position and power," he said. "They want a mission worth dying for and only see us struggling over who is in control of a slowly sinking ship. By bringing fresh eyes to the BGCT, we can cast a vision around which our young can rally."

Both Lowrie and Fenner want to focus on missions in the coming year and call congregations to take an active role.

Fenner believes the challenges in the state convention are apathy, perceived irrelevance, and a need to regain trust and she hopes to cast a vision that will engage the congregations "to do something bold in missions and ministry that would impact each unique local community and the world."

The next elected head will succeed outgoing president Steve Vernon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Levelland.

The annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas takes place Oct. 29-30 at the Amarillo Civic Center. Featured speakers include Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and David Coffey, president of the Baptist World Alliance. The BGCT claims about 5,700 affiliated churches across the state and is part of the Baptist World Alliance.