Bexar County, Texas, is a place of religious diversity, boasting churches of various denominations such as Roman Catholic and Temple Beth-El, a synagogue founded in 1874. This is one of the oldest preserved places of worship in San Antonio, the oldest synagogue in South Texas and a monument to the city's growing religious diversity during that period. In 1886, the Texas Baptist General Association and the Texas Baptist State Convention merged to form the Texas Baptist General Convention (BGCT).The BGCT, better known as the Texas Baptists, is a Baptist Christian denomination in the United States. It has grown despite divisions and affiliations with Southern Baptists. At the end of the 20th century, it was involved in a doctrinal struggle regarding the future of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Since this schism and takeover of power by conservatives of the Southern Baptist Convention, it has mobilized affiliated churches in annual meetings to elect moderate or centrist candidates supported by the organization in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 1848, representatives of four associations met in Anderson, Texas, and initiated the Texas Baptist State Convention. Pilgrim Church is the oldest Baptist church in Texas and survives today as an early Baptist church. This church, now known as Church of the Old North, is the oldest surviving missionary Baptist church in Texas and cooperates with the Texas Baptist General Convention. Carroll, pastor of First Baptist in Waco, was instrumental in getting the General Association, during its 1883 meeting, to propose that five conventions in Texas consider uniting as a single body. With respect to marriage and sexuality, Texas Baptists assert that any sexual relationship outside of marriage is viewed as a result of harmonious cooperation with the Texas Baptist General Convention.
