“Southern Baptists Conservatives of Virginia” Organized

by    Rev. Demas B. Martin                                                                                                                            Vol. VI, No. 2, March 1993

Conservative Virginia Southern Baptists gathered for an historic meeting in Lynchburg at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 28th [1993]. Total registration was 689 plus nine media representatives, but a show of hands indicated many had not registered. Based upon the capacity of the auditorium and those seated in the three overflow rooms (all full with people standing in the halls), a reasonable estimate is that there were 900 to 1,000 present. From registration card information alone, 217 churches were represented.

T. C. Pinckney called the meeting to order and suggested that Rev. Robert C. Jackson be elected moderator, but asked if there were other nominations. Jackson is Director of Missions of New River Baptist Association and lives in Galax. He serves with Pinckney (and Scott Humphrey of First Baptist Church, Alexandria) on the SBC Executive Committee. There were no other nominations, and Jackson was elected by acclamation. He had enlisted two knowledgeable though not professional parliamentarians: Rev. Richard Harrell, pastor of Seaford Church, Peninsula Association, and Rev. Fred M. Minix, pastor of Good News Church, Alexandria.

Jackson briefly reviewed the events leading up to this meeting starting with the dismaying decisions at the BGAV annual convention last November. Conservatives were upset, but did not wish to act precipitously. We therefore held six input meetings around the state on December 1 & 3. Based upon the comments and questionnaires from those meetings, eleven men met January 5th to plan for this meeting. He stressed that that group had no official authority and that all decisions would be the result of votes taken at this meeting. He suggested that the body elect those eleven as a steering committee for the day and let them retire to bring back an agenda and recommendations for orderly actions.

At that point a motion was made from the floor to begin immediately taking steps toward forming a separate state convention and seek recognition from the SBC. A lengthy discussion covered both pros and cons. Perhaps the strongest point favorable to the motion was "How can two walk together unless they be agreed." Major counter points were that most members of BGAV churches have been misled, misinformed, or uninformed, and that if we were to separate we would lose the opportunity to reach these basically good-hearted, well-intentioned Baptists; that conservative strength is steadily growing in Virginia and in a few years we may well be able to turn Virginia back to the SBC's historic Bible-based beliefs just as the SBC has been turned; and that were we to form a separate convention, we would turn over to the moderates/liberals the 42 trustee positions held by Virginians on SBC boards. The motion to form a separate state convention was decisively defeated on a show of hands. Estimates were that 85% to 90% of the body voted against it.

Jackson returned to the original suggestion to elect the steering committee. A pastor moved that the steering committee be nominated individually from the floor. The motion was amended to increase the steering committee to 14 and passed in that form. Nominations were taken from the floor, and the committee was elected. Six of the original 11 were elected.

While the committee met in a separate room, the main body enjoyed a worship service with congregational singing, special music, and an excellent message from John 21 on loving Jesus and feeding His sheep by Bob Melvin, pastor of Spotswood Church in Fredricksburg.

The steering committee returned. T. C. Pinckney had been elected chairman of the steering committee, so he brought its report and recommendations.

Motion #1 was "That an organization of conservative Virginia Southern Baptists be created, but NOT a separate state convention." During discussion one member spoke against the motion and in favor only of continuing to educate and trying to build strength at the BGAV meetings. After further discussion the original motion passed overwhelmingly, almost unanimously.

Motion #2 was "That this new organization be named the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia" (SBCV). Pinckney pointed out that the steering committee wanted the name to be clearly identified with the SBC, to be linked with the conservative biblical position, and to avoid using a word like "fellowship" or "association" which could cause confusion. This motion also passed overwhelmingly.

Motion #3 was a vision statement suggested by the January 5th group and approved by the steering committee. It was slightly amended from the floor to read:

We will assist local Southern Baptist churches in Virginia to:

- win the lost to Christ,

- develop believers, and

- promote missions and evangelism

through a strong organization which will provide sound,

biblical teaching (consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message

1963), inspirational meetings, timely information, and mutual

fellowship, undergirded by the prayers of the saints.

In discussion it was pointed out that we can best educate our churches by offering positive, Bible-believing help, especially in evangelism and church growth. This will not be an organization advocating a new agenda. Instead, it will only help local Southern Baptist churches stand where Southern Baptists have always stood throughout our history, believing and preaching the Bible and strongly emphasizing evangelism, world missions, and support for the Southern Baptist Convention. The vision statement as amended was approved overwhelmingly.

Motion #4 was that the body elect officers and other members of an executive committee to serve for not more than one year. The five officers are to be: president, 1st vice president, 2nd vice president, secretary, and treasurer. There would be 20 other members of the executive committee. All 25 positions to be filled by nominations from the floor.

Responsibilities of the officers and full executive committee will be to draft a constitution, incorporate the SBCV, achieve non-profit status, establish procedures to handle necessary finances, and examine ways conservatives can implement the vision statement (for example, by organizing an evangelism conference for the spring of 1994). After discussion the motion was approved strongly. In not more than 12 months another statewide meeting will be called to vote on the constitution and bylaws, elect officers under the constitution, and pass judgment upon other plans set in motion by the executive committee.

Officers were elected with one-minute nominating remarks allowed for the five officers but only names and locations for the 20 other executive committee members. There were at least two nominations for each of the five officers, and an excellent spirit was displayed by everyone. There were three microphones in the auditorium. Members in the overflow rooms who wished to speak were asked to come into the auditorium. The moderator alternated between microphones; however, everyone who wanted to make a nomination could not be recognized, not because of actions by the moderator, but because of motions to call for the question or close nominations. Debate was only closed by vote of the body.

The officers elected are:

President: Tommy J. Taylor, pastor London Bridge Church, Virginia Beach; Sunday School Board trustee.

1VP: James Bradshaw, pastor Norview Church, Norfolk.

2VP: Howard Baldwin, evangelist, Richmond; former FMB trustee.

Secretary: Ann Frazier, former FMB trustee.

Treasurer: Doyle Chauncey, member of FBC, Norfolk, CPA.

The executive committee members elected are:

Mike Adams, pastor Ebenezer Church, Gloucester. Paige Bowman, pastor Ramoth Church, Stafford. Kelly Burris, pastor Kempsville Church, Virginia Beach. Grady Byrd, pastor Cedar Bluff Church, Atkins. Lester Curtis, pastor Round Hill Church, King George. Bob Davis, evangelist, Lynchburg. Terry Harper, pastor Colonial Heights Church, Colonial Heights; Foreign Mission Board trustee. Bob Jackson, DOM, New River Baptist Association, Galax; SBC Executive Committee. Jess Jackson, pastor Westwood Hills Church, Virginia Beach. Tom Keehan, pastor Bethel Church, Phenix. Samuel Letson, pastor Emmanuel Church, Manassas. John Marks, pastor Stafford Church, Stafford. Ed Northrop, pastor Calvary Church, Staunton. Bynum Orr, pastor Fontaine Church, Martinsville. Mike Palmer, pastor Green Ridge Church, Roanoke. John Peper, pastor Del Ray Church, Alexandria. T.C. Pinckney, member Good News Church, Alexandria; SBC Executive Committee. Jim Pope, member Peck's Church, Bedford. Gene Primm, pastor Bethany Church, Portsmouth. John Simms, member FBC, Roanoke; Foreign Mission Board trustee.

Following the above elections, two resolutions were moved, discussed, and passed:

Homosexuality: The resolution recognized homosexuality as biblical sin, affirmed loving hope for the conversion of homosexuals, opposed the acceptance of practicing homosexuals as church leaders, and urged all Christians to witness to all people.

Sanctity of Human Life: The resolution affirmed the biblical prohibition against taking human life, called on Virginia Baptists to work for pro-life legislation and to minister to the needs of girls and women with unwanted pregnancies. ... Both passed overwhelmingly. ...

[D. B. Martin is pastor of Natural Bridge Baptist Church, Natural Bridge, VA.]