I’ve been surprised at how difficult it is to find information (at least in one location) about the differences between the two Baptist state conventions, hence the reason for this article.

Most of the information in this article came directly from the executive leadership of both conventions. We recently had both Dr. Julio Guarneri (BGCT executive director) and Dr. Nathan Lorick (SBTC executive director) out to visit with our church staff and lay leadership and share about the respective conventions and answer questions. 

My goal in this article is to be as non-biased as possible. I’m hoping this fills a bit of a need: provide summaries of ministries and differences between the two conventions, while doing my best not to give my personal opinions. If you want my opinion, you’re welcome to reach out. Lastly, my hope is not to let this article get too long. There’s no way to be exhaustive on all the nuances and history, but I’ll do my best to cover the basics. 

We’ll start with a brief overview of the history of each convention, then move to three main areas to compare and contrast: ministry, budget, and theology. 

The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT)

The BGCT (commonly called “Texas Baptists”) was founded in 1886 (though you can trace this group’s influence to as early as the late 1840’s). This convention includes more than 5300 churches and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance. Throughout its history, the BGCT has helped to develop seven hospitals, four children’s homes, and five homes for the elderly. It also helped to establish Baylor University, which is the largest Baptist university in the world. Other educational partnerships include Dallas Baptist University, East Texas Baptist Universal, Hardin Simmons University, Houston Christian University, Howard Payne University, Wayland Baptist University, and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC)

The SBTC was officially founded in 1998 by a group of churches within the BGCT who wished to align and partner with the Southern Baptist Convention more closely. In 2000, the SBTC adopted the SBC’s Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as its statement of faith, and only churches who affirm this statement of faith are permitted to affiliate with the SBTC. This included a theological commitment to inerrancy and complementarianism. This convention includes more than 2800 churches. The SBTC does not own and operate any universities, but does have strong affiliations with the SBC seminaries. 

Ministry Differences

It’s difficult to compare the ministries of two state conventions, because they’re both doing great things. I also hate to make this into a competition. But ministry is obviously the primary reason we cooperate with like-minded churches. So obviously this is important. 

The BGCT for more than a century has had a major impact on the state of Texas, including Baptist student ministries on well over 100 college campuses, training and assisting in church revitalization, directly supporting church planting efforts, disaster relief and more. Ministries to existing churches includes pastoral health initiatives, counseling services, chaplaincy services, inter-cultural ministries, and the Missionary Adoption Program. Currently, this direct support includes 70 missionaries in 17 countries and about 40 along the border. Texas Baptists also support about 1000 students in preparation for ministry (in BGCT-affiliated schools). The BGCT has a long history of gospel impact that continues today. You can find out more about what the BGCT does at texasbaptists.org. 

The SBTC, though newer, has a strong focus on church planting, revitalization, networks to keep pastors and ministers connected and growing together, ministry training and conferences, and a convention-wide initiative to see churches committed to meaningful prayer. Their mission is “Mobilizing churches to multiply disciple-making movements in Texas and around the world.” The SBTC is especially committed to coming alongside churches in planting and revitalizing churches. They have a strong partnership with the Send Network of the Southern Baptist Convention which mobilizes churches to plant churches. More about the SBTC and their ministries can be found at sbtexas.com. 

Budget Differences

The BGCT’s total budget for 2025 is $36.7m, of which the recommended distribution is 21% to be sent directly on to the national convention. This goes toward international & North American missions (IMB & NAMB), theological education (the six SBC seminaries), ethics and religious liberty (ERLC) and the Executive Committee. However, local churches can designate fund percentages as they wish (beyond the automatic 79%/21% split). They will tell you that this percentage of 79% for Texas and 21% for worldwide shows the level of missions and ministry the BGCT does in Texas and beyond. You can see a full budget summary by clicking HERE.  

The SBTC’s total budget for 2025 is $27.8m. 55% of that amount is sent directly on to the national convention, to go toward international & North American missions (IMB and NAMB), theological education (the six SBC seminaries), ethics and religious liberty (ERLC) and the Executive Committee. This 55% represents one of the highest giving percentages moving on through any state convention in the U.S. They will tell you that this giving breakdown of 45% for Texas and 55% for worldwide shows the SBTC’s commitment to SBC national initiatives, especially international missions. You can see a full budget summary by clicking HERE.  

Theological Differences

The primary differences between the conventions in doctrine come down to 1) women in ministry, 2) respective statements of faith, and 3) confessionalism and local church autonomy. 

With regard to women in ministry, the BGCT believes the question of female pastors is a local church issue, not one in which the convention takes a stand. There are both complementarian and egalitarian churches in the BGCT. To quote Dr. Guarneri (executive director), “As a convention, we are not complementarian or egalitarian. We believe this to be an issue of biblical interpretation, not an issue of biblical authority.” It’s also worth noting that Truett Seminary (the BGCT’s “flagship” seminary) is officially egalitarian. They not only permit, but celebrate, women who feel called to serve in any role in the church, including that of senior pastor. While there are only a few currently, the BGCT does include churches who have female senior pastors. 

The SBTC is unashamedly complementarian. Churches with female senior pastors are not permitted to be “in friendly cooperation” with the SBTC. And further, at last year’s annual meeting in November, the messengers voted to interpret the SBTC’s bylaws to not permit any female ministerial staff of churches to have the title of “pastor.” In other words, to have a female in the official role of “children’s pastor” or “youth pastor” risks that church being removed from “friendly cooperation” with the convention. To quote Dr. Lorick (executive director), “We unequivocally believe that God calls women to ministry and God gifts women for ministry… we also believe that God has ordained for men to serve in the position of pastor.” 

With regard to statements of faith, every SBTC church must affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (LINK) to be affiliated. The BGCT does not require a specific statement of faith. While the convention has officially affirmed the Baptist Faith and Message 1963 (LINK), churches can affiliate with the BGCT by being in general agreement with any of the Baptist Faith and Message versions (1925, 1963, or 2000) or any other similar Baptist statement of faith. While many BGCT churches affirm the BF&M 1963, several affirm the BF&M 2000 and other Baptist confessions. The primary differences between the BF&M 2000 and BF&M 1963 statements of faith are with regard to 1) complementarianism, and 2) the nature of Scripture. 

The BF&M 2000 states in Part VI. The Church: “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” This statement was added to the BF&M 2000, and does not appear in the BF&M 1963. 

On Scripture, these two statements of faith are identical except for two differences. Both statements include this sentence: “It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.” The BF&M 2000, however, also includes this sentence immediately after: “Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy.” The other difference in this section is the last sentence of each. The BF&M 1963 states the following: “The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.” Due to a perceived “loophole” in this statement with regard to inerrancy, the BF&M 2000 adjusted this last sentence to the following: “All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.” 

Much of the question of inerrancy is very detailed in its argumentation. If by “inerrancy” you mean affirming of the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, the BGCT would say this is a nuanced issue that is not a test for affiliation. It’s worth noting, also, that Truett Seminary does not as a seminary officially affirm inerrancy when defined this way. However, both the BGCT and Truett Seminary would completely affirm the authority of Scripture (LINK). The SBTC, on the other hand, officially affirms inerrancy as laid out in the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. 

The SBTC uses the BF&M 2000 to provide a doctrinal foundation that unifies their churches in big-picture doctrines and Christian practice. The BGCT is purposefully “non-creedal”, in that they desire not to weaponize any statement of faith to remove or determine a church’s affiliation. The BGCT Executive Board has also approved what is called The GC2 Summary of Faith.  

Last Thought

As I said, this is not exhaustive at all. But hopefully this gives you an “introduction” to the primary differences between the two Baptist Texas state conventions. There’s one thing I want to close with. As I mentioned, we had Dr. Guarneri and multiple senior leadership from the BGCT come in to meet with our staff and a group of lay leaders. They were kind, hospitable, thrilled to meet with us, and never once said a negative thing about the SBTC. We also had Dr. Lorick and multiple senior leadership from the SBTC come in to meet with us. They were kind, hospitable, thrilled to meet with us, and never once said a negative thing about the BGCT. 

We were delighted this was how these discussions went. Nor did we have to ask them to speak charitably of other groups. This seemed to be their natural disposition. 

All that to say: I have strong opinions (as you may have also), and some of my opinions are doctrinal and convictional, not merely practical. But I was glad these two groups were honest, open, and excited for what God is doing in and through their respective conventions of churches in Texas. 

Special thanks to Dr.’s Guarneri and Lorick (and their executive teams), not only for visiting with us in-person, but for providing feedback and minor corrections for this article.