Leaders of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) are creating a new global organization for missionaries who want to leave the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The move follows the conservative IMB's January decision to ask missionaries to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message (CT, April 22, p. 20). The national convention's statement of faith includes 1998 language that wives should "graciously submit" to their husbands. It added in 2000 that the office of pastor is reserved for men. IMB officials say that missionaries can sign while noting disagreements.

"Many people feel called to missions but can't serve with the IMB because they won't sign," said Clyde Glazener, chairman of the BGCT's Missions Review and Initiatives Committee.

In 2000 the BGCT redirected funds, previously sent to the national convention's six seminaries, strictly to Texas schools. In addition, the BGCT recently created a fund to help missionaries who resign or are dismissed over the statement.

Several Texas Baptists have already pledged $300,000 to jump-start the agency. The BGCT missions committee offered a proposal for the organization, which it calls a network, at the Texas convention's executive board meeting in Dallas on September 24. The executive board approved it. The BGCT is expected to approve the new organization at its annual meeting this month in Waco.

BGCT officials say they are not trying to get churches to replace existing church relationships with denominational mission boards. Instead the new network will supplement them with "fluid and flexible structures" that respond more quickly to church and missionary needs. BGCT President Charles Wade says that the new network will offer missionary ...