Southern Baptists of Texas
Encyclopedia
The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) is a convention of conservative Southern Baptist churches in Texas
. It is supportive of the national Southern Baptist Convention
. It was formed by churches within the Baptist General Convention of Texas
so that they might partner more closely with the SBC in a fellowship based on a common commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture.
The earliest precursor to the SBTC was the Conservative Baptist Fellowship of Texas. Members of that fellowship joined other conservative Southern Baptists to form the Southern Baptists of Texas in 1995. This group operated within the Baptist General Convention of Texas
(BGCT) until a new entity the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention was founded in 1998.
The groups that preceded the new convention sought closer cooperation between the BGCT and the SBC than existed during the "Conservative Resurgence" of the national body. However, the BGCT's refusal to endorse the more conservative leanings of the SBC leadership led the Southern Baptists of Texas to organize a separate state convention in November 1998. The new state convention, though autonomous, immediately formed closer partnerships with the entities of the SBC.
The SBTC believes in the inerrancy of Scripture
, salvation only in Jesus Christ, and the primacy of the local church. The SBTC established missions and evangelism
as its major emphases. The SBTC adopted the 2000 SBC Baptist Faith and Message
as its own statement of faith. The SBTC's purpose, according to its mission statement, is to "facilitate, extend, and enlarge the Great Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist churches and associations of Texas."
The SBTC's headquarters are in a 30,000 ft² (2,800 m²) facility, opened in 2004, in Grapevine, Texas
. Jim Richards serves as the Executive Director
. Its official publication is the Southern Baptist Texan and Gary Ledbetter currently serves as its editor
.
As of November 2009, 2,197 churches are affiliated with the SBTC. SBTC affiliated churches may be either "uniquely affiliated" (solely affiliated with SBTC) or "dually affiliated" (affiliated with both SBTC and another Baptist group).
Several new Baptist associations have formed by SBTC churches (one being the North Texas Baptist Association
, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area), though the SBTC itself does not promote their formation. Most SBTC churches choose to remain in longtime associations.
Criswell College
in Dallas, TX is currently affiliated with and supported by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Criswell College offers fully accredited Bachelors and Masters degrees including the Master of Divinity
(M.Div). The college is known for its emphasis on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, its emphasis on Biblical inerrancy
, and its emphasis on teaching students to view all academic disciplines through a Christian worldview
.
A second college, Jacksonville College
is also affiliated with the convention. Jacksonville College is an accredited two-year college located in Jacksonville, Texas
. Jacksonville College was begun by and is owned by the Baptist Missionary Association of America
(BMAA), a Baptist association distinct from the Southern Baptist Convention.
) which is also owned and affiliated with the BMAA. East Texas Baptist Family Ministries, another affiliated ministry was begun by churches in East Texas and is located outside of Timpson, Texas.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. It is supportive of the national Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. It was formed by churches within the Baptist General Convention of Texas
Baptist General Convention of Texas
The Baptist General Convention of Texas is the oldest surviving Baptist convention in the state of Texas. The churches cooperating with the Baptist General Convention of Texas partner nationally and internationally with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,...
so that they might partner more closely with the SBC in a fellowship based on a common commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture.
The earliest precursor to the SBTC was the Conservative Baptist Fellowship of Texas. Members of that fellowship joined other conservative Southern Baptists to form the Southern Baptists of Texas in 1995. This group operated within the Baptist General Convention of Texas
Baptist General Convention of Texas
The Baptist General Convention of Texas is the oldest surviving Baptist convention in the state of Texas. The churches cooperating with the Baptist General Convention of Texas partner nationally and internationally with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,...
(BGCT) until a new entity the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention was founded in 1998.
The groups that preceded the new convention sought closer cooperation between the BGCT and the SBC than existed during the "Conservative Resurgence" of the national body. However, the BGCT's refusal to endorse the more conservative leanings of the SBC leadership led the Southern Baptists of Texas to organize a separate state convention in November 1998. The new state convention, though autonomous, immediately formed closer partnerships with the entities of the SBC.
The SBTC believes in the inerrancy of Scripture
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
, salvation only in Jesus Christ, and the primacy of the local church. The SBTC established missions and evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
as its major emphases. The SBTC adopted the 2000 SBC Baptist Faith and Message
Baptist Faith and Message
The Baptist Faith and Message is the confession of faith of the Southern Baptist Convention . It summarizes key Southern Baptist thought in the areas of the Bible and its authority, the nature of God as expressed by the Trinity, the spiritual condition of man, God's plan of grace and salvation,...
as its own statement of faith. The SBTC's purpose, according to its mission statement, is to "facilitate, extend, and enlarge the Great Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist churches and associations of Texas."
The SBTC's headquarters are in a 30,000 ft² (2,800 m²) facility, opened in 2004, in Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census the city population was 46,334. The city's moniker is derived from the native grapes prevalent in the area. In recent years several wineries have...
. Jim Richards serves as the Executive Director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
. Its official publication is the Southern Baptist Texan and Gary Ledbetter currently serves as its editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
.
As of November 2009, 2,197 churches are affiliated with the SBTC. SBTC affiliated churches may be either "uniquely affiliated" (solely affiliated with SBTC) or "dually affiliated" (affiliated with both SBTC and another Baptist group).
Several new Baptist associations have formed by SBTC churches (one being the North Texas Baptist Association
North Texas Baptist Association
The North Texas Baptist Area Association is an association of conservative Southern Baptist churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area....
, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area), though the SBTC itself does not promote their formation. Most SBTC churches choose to remain in longtime associations.
SBTC Higher Education
"Affiliation" is a formal relationship that involves funding through the convention's budget and representation on the affiliated entity's board.Criswell College
Criswell College
Criswell College is a Dispensationalist Christian college and divinity school in Dallas, Texas. It is known for training students to teach and preach the Bible with emphasis on evangelism, the original languages, and Biblical inerrancy.-History:...
in Dallas, TX is currently affiliated with and supported by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Criswell College offers fully accredited Bachelors and Masters degrees including the Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
(M.Div). The college is known for its emphasis on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, its emphasis on Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
, and its emphasis on teaching students to view all academic disciplines through a Christian worldview
Christian worldview
Christian worldview refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian individual, group or culture interprets the world and interacts with it. Different denominations of Christianity have varying worldviews...
.
A second college, Jacksonville College
Jacksonville College
Jacksonville College has the distinction of being one of only two private junior colleges in the state of Texas. Jacksonville College is fully accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, providing Associates Degrees in Science and Arts providing core-curriculum classes for almost...
is also affiliated with the convention. Jacksonville College is an accredited two-year college located in Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
. Jacksonville College was begun by and is owned by the Baptist Missionary Association of America
Baptist Missionary Association of America
The Baptist Missionary Association of America is a fellowship of autonomous Baptist churches for the purpose of benevolence, Christian education, and missions....
(BMAA), a Baptist association distinct from the Southern Baptist Convention.
Other Affiliated Ministries
The SBTC has affiliated relationships with two children's homes. Texas Baptist Home for Children (a children's home that also works with foster parents, located in Waxahachie, TexasWaxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States, and a southern suburb of Dallas. The population was 21,426 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ellis County....
) which is also owned and affiliated with the BMAA. East Texas Baptist Family Ministries, another affiliated ministry was begun by churches in East Texas and is located outside of Timpson, Texas.
External links
- SBTexas.com - the official site of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
Sources
- Texas Baptist leaders respond to new convention, by Herb Hollinger, BP News, November 25, 1997