In a stunning move that has gone largely unnoticed, the prestigious Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas severed ties with the Southern Baptist Convention on October 27. This historic church, originating in 1939, reshaped its future by quietly amending its bylaws to eliminate any mention of the SBC, marking the end of two decades of nominal affiliation with the national denomination.
The congregation received an email from church leaders detailing the decision made by a dedicated task force, which cited a significant decline in financial support for SBC initiatives as a driving factor. “PCBC’s relationship with the SBC has been very attenuated for more than two decades… in light of continuing changes within the SBC, the task force recommended that PCBC graciously withdraw,” the email read. The amendment passed with overwhelming backing from church members, signaling a definitive shift away from previous affiliations.
SBC Exodus Trend Gains Momentum
Park Cities’ withdrawal epitomizes a broader trend among Baptist churches in Texas, where many congregations are reassessing their connections to the SBC due to ideological shifts and changing priorities. In fact, it’s reported that only 64% of Texas churches contributing to the Baptist General Convention of Texas also supported the SBC last year, indicating a rising wave of “Texas only” churches. Park Cities Baptist’s financial report for 2023 revealed it contributed $146,468 to the BGCT but nothing to the SBC Cooperative Program, illustrating this emerging trend.
This departure marks yet another chapter in the evolving relationship between Texas Baptist churches and the controversial Southern Baptist Convention. Park Cities Baptist, once a revered leader within the SBC, has now stepped into a new identity, leaving behind its historic roots as it embraces a path focused solely on Texas affiliations and mission work.
