BGAV Convention

by T.C. Pinckney                                                                                                  Vol. V, No. 2, April 1992

When personally involved in a situation, it is often instructive to view it through the eyes of a non-participant. Thus the impressions of our last state convention as described by Cody Lowe, religion writer for the Roanoke Times & World-News, 16 Nov. 1991, are of interest. He wrote, "...there did appear to be a larger proportional contingent of ultraconservative or fundamentalist messengers than in recent years, judging by the voting on several key issues that divided the association.

"While the presidential vote was not close – the moderate candidate garnered two-thirds of the vote – several other ballots were closer to 60 percent/40 percent."

And in a later paragraph, "Ultimately, the persistent, consuming, overriding issue for both moderates and ultraconservatives is theological education: What should Baptist seminaries be teaching to the denomination's future pastors?"

Comment: What Mr. Lowe did not mention is that in 1987 and 88 conservatives were so weak and disorganized we did not even nominate anyone. In 1989 our presidential nominee received just 12.98%, in 1990 26.64%. Then this year 33.85%. Though we certainly have a way to go, we are making progress every year. Lowe is right on the mark regarding the importance of the seminaries. As the seminaries go, sooner or later, so goes the entire convention. On the whole, conservative Virginia Baptists, while not satisfied with the results of our most recent state convention, can note with calm determination and growing confidence that conservatives in Virginia are now a force to be reckoned with. For the first time the liberal state leadership attempted something it wanted very much but failed. Our presidential candidate received more votes and a higher percentage than any time in at least the last six years. And conservatives sensed our new momentum. Our rallying cry during 1992 should be, "See you in Virginia Beach!"