Church-appointed messengers of the Baptist General Convention of Texas voted Monday to slash funding for Baylor University by nearly $1 million on the first day of the annual conference at the Amarillo Civic Center.

The new agreement with Baylor reduces funding to $1.9 million from the $2.8 million the convention contributed in 2011, Texas Baptists spokeswoman Kaitlin Warrington said.

Ed Jackson, a convention member who helped negotiate the agreement, said the agreement was difficult to reach and almost never took place.

“This agreement appeared when we were almost ready to give up,” Jackson said. “It is an agreement that I think is good for both the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Baylor. I think it’s positive for the future.”

The new agreement also gives Baylor more input into whom the convention nominates to serve on the Baylor Board of Regents. The agreement allows the convention to elect up to 25 percent of the university’s board of regents.

The conference, in Amarillo for the sixth time since 1947, is themed “Igniting Hope,” and gives Texas Baptists a chance to congregate and get motivated for volunteer and ministry efforts taking place across the state. Some 875 church-appointed messengers and 475 visitors signed in Monday, convention President Victor Rodriguez said.

“That motivation comes out of an ignited hope in the Lord,” said James Hassell, pastor of Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth. “And to be honest with you … for a young preacher, this is the appeal of the Baptist General Convention of Texas — the freedom to give glory to God, and our hope in Christ has motivated us from the very beginning.”

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