Short Spots 

                                                                                                                                          Vol. XVI, No. 1, January 2003

Motorcycle crash leaves SBTC president in serious condition: George Harris, the president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, was seriously injured in a Nov. 23 motorcycle crash in the rural Hill Country outside San Antonio. Harris, who recently retired after serving 28 years as senior pastor of Castle Hills First Baptist Church, was hospitalized in serious condition as of Nov. 25 at University Hospital, conscious, but unable to speak. Harris, 68, was wearing a helmet that didn't shield his face; he suffered multiple facial fractures. Jim Richards, executive director of the SBTC, released a statement expressing his concern for Harris, who was recently re-elected to a second term as president of the SBCT. "We thank God for sparing Dr. Harris during this accident," Richards said. "He is precious to Texas Southern Baptists as a preacher, pastor, president, and friend. We join his church family and friends in praying for a speedy and full recovery for our dear brother." "He's able to squeeze our fingers. He knows we're there," said Don Harris, his son, in an interview with The San Antonio Express-News. "We're expecting him to have normal brain function. We are expecting a long, tedious reconstruction process on his face." [BP]

FBC, Dallas leaves BGCT:

The congregation of the historic First Baptist Church, Dallas, voted overwhelmingly Nov. 20 to give all their Cooperative Program money through the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention rather than their previous method of giving through the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The congregation's vote moves the church one step closer to uniquely aligning with the SBTC, a state convention that is in full cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. Mac Brunson, senior pastor, said, "The BGCT is making it increasingly impossible for churches who want to be with the Southern Baptist Convention to remain a part of the state convention. The BGCT is a denomination of their own in everything but title." [BP]