State Wrap 2001                                                                                          

                                                                                                                    
by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                              Vol. XV, No. 1, January 2002

Forty-one state convention meetings took place in November or late October. The results are summarized here. For the most part, state-specific actions have been omitted and attention focussed on issues and actions of SBC-wide interest. The purpose is to provide you, the reader, an appreciation of major decisions, trends, and movements within Southern Baptist life.

This year there were two major questions as the state conventions approached: What actions would additional states take on the revised Baptist Faith & Message? And would conservatives in Missouri consolidate their gains, or would Missouri liberals succeed in reversing the trend?

Baptist Faith and Message:

– Last year’s results: At the June 2000 SBC meeting messengers adopted the revision to the Baptist Faith & Message. Last Oct/Nov 11 states put the new BFM in their constitutions/bylaws or passed resolutions affirming it. In AR & MD-DE pro-BFM 2000 motions got a majority but did not receive the necessary 2/3. AL commended all BFM versions. KY formed a committee to study it. Four states acted negatively in varying degrees: NE’s constitution refers to the “current” BFM, but a resolution encouraging BFM 2000 support was defeated. NY adopted a requirement that churches must give to the Cooperative Program and be in sympathy with the ‘98 version, but did not address the 2000 BFM. TN only acknowledged the BFM as a source of information. And the Baptist General Convention of Texas stated that all confessions of faith are only guides in interpretation.

– Baptist Faith & Message 2000: Six more states affirmed the BFM 2000: AK messengers endorsed it and expressed appreciation to the BFM committee. In AR the motion to make the BFM 2000 the doctrinal guidance for Arkansas Baptists was approved with a 69.5% vote; as a constitutional change, it must be approved again next year. NW adopted BFM 2000 as their statement of faith overwhelmingly. OH endorsed the 2000 BFM after defeating two attempts to vote down or avoid the matter. PA-SJersey unanimously approved a resolution describing the “most recent BFM as a resource for better understanding and teaching of Southern Baptist beliefs and practices” and describing the Bible as “God’s totally true and trustworthy Word, our sole authority for faith and practice.” The state executive board had earlier stated that “Board-elected staff [will] be asked to affirm the current BFM”. SC passed a resolution supporting the SBC and affirming the 2000 BFM.

    Three states acted negatively: In CA a motion was approved for substantive vote next year to remove from the state constitution the requirement that churches “be in agreement with the BFM as adopted by the SBC.” In HW an amendment to change the convention statement of faith from the ‘63 BFM to “any version that has been adopted by the SBC” fell short of the necessary 2/3 majority by eight votes. And the Baptist General Convention of Texas soundly defeated a resolution to affirm the BFM 2000.

    Three other states took temporizing actions. IL affirmed all versions of the BFM. KY adopted the Bible “as the basis of our faith and practice” and also acknowledged the value” of faith statements from the 1742 Philadelphia Confession to the 2000 BFM. And in MI a constitutional amendment proposed last year for vote this year to refer in the constitution to the 2000 BFM rather than the 1963 version failed of the needed two-thirds by just 2 votes, 106 to 54.

– BFM summary: 17 states (AK, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IN, LA, MO, NW, OH, OK, PA-SJersey, SC, SBTC, SBCV, WV) have acted positively, 3 negatively (HW, TN, BGCT), 5 have taken mixed actions that lean positive (AL, IL, MD-DE, MI, NE), one mixed but leaning negative (KY), and 13 have taken no action (AZ, IA, KN, MN-WS, MS, MT, NV, NM, NY, NC, TN, BGAV, WY).

Missouri: Conservatives won every vote. Bob Curtis, pastor of Ballwin BC, the conservative candidate, was elected president 1486 to 517 (74% to 26%) over the “Mainstream Missouri Baptists” candidate. This is the fourth year in a row that conservatives have won all offices, and they now hold a 31 to 23 majority on the MBC executive board and so control the nominating committee that recommends trustees for state agencies.

     Article 4 of the state constitution requires that member churches be affiliated with the SBC as well as the MBC. Consequently, the credentials committee recommended that messengers from Second BC, Liberty, not be seated because the church had voted earlier this year to sever its ties to the SBC. This and other conservative victories will certainly intensify efforts underway by MO liberals to form a separate state convention (see below).

     Apparently in anticipation of continued conservative victories and wanting to act while they still control the trustee boards of various state entities, during the last 13 months the boards of five agencies ( The Baptist Foundation, Windermere Conference Center, Missouri Baptist College, the Word & Way state news journal, and The Baptist Home) have voted to become self-perpetuating, that is, the trustee boards have voted to elect their own successors rather than continue the constitutional arrangement under which messengers at the annual state convention elect new trustees. Because of these trustee actions, the state convention voted overwhelmingly to escrow $2,150,000 earmarked in the state budget for these agencies. The approved motion also applies to any other agency whose trustees take similar action in the future. Funds are to be in escrow until trustees “rescind their actions and reinstate their former charters” that provided for the MBC to elect trustees.

     On the final day of the convention, messengers approved a separate motion which instructs convention leaders to seek legal opinion on actions taken by the five agencies and “take any and all steps necessary to restore them to their former relationship with the Missouri Baptist Convention.” Consequently, the MBC’s executive board voted 11 Dec. to hire an attorney and obtain a legal opinion on whether trustees of five MBC entities acted illegally. (Informal word is that the MBC has a very strong case against the trustees.)

     Just one day earlier letters from the rival Mainstream Missouri Baptists organization were mailed throughout the state announcing it is closing its doors effective 31 Dec. Doyle Sager, president of Mainstream Missouri Baptists and pastor of First BC, Jefferson City, said "A new Missouri Baptist Convention is on the horizon, free from Fundamentalist domination. Many of our beloved Missouri Baptist institutions have become free from Fundamentalist control. One of those autonomous institutions is Word & Way, thus guaranteeing a free Baptist press for all Missouri Baptists." Sager also encourages Missouri Baptists to utilize the new giving plans endorsed by state moderates last month which ask Southern Baptists to give through the Missouri Baptist Foundation. "Missouri Baptists now have new giving options, including plans through the Baptist Foundation and through CBF of Missouri (these new, expanded options offer nearly everything MMB has offered in our three plans)," Sager writes. "In short," Sager continued in the letter, "we've accomplished our goal -- a climate of freedom in Missouri Baptist life. So, we are stepping aside so that more permanent options in Missouri Baptist life may come to the forefront without confusion or duplication."
[Comment: Clearly trustees of the five institutions took their steps in order to provide the soon-to-be-announced new, liberal Missouri convention with a core of operative institutions and to deprive the MBC of as many resources as possible. But this is the usual way of liberals. They can’t build, so they feed off the success of Bible-believing Christians. TCP]

     Messengers also overwhelmingly approved the nominating committee’s recommended changed selection guidelines: no one may serve on more than one board simultaneously, each MBC church will be allowed a maximum of two people on MBC boards at one time, and all Missouri Baptists serving on MBC entity boards must support the MBC and the SBC, unless otherwise provided by the charter or constitution of that entity. These revisions were necessitated because under liberal control a few churches were heavily over-represented. For instance, one church in St. Louis has seven people serving in eight positions; another church has five people filling six positions. [Comment: While liberals talk a lot about the priesthood of the believer, diversity, and inclusiveness, note that it is the conservatives who act to ensure broader representation on convention entities. TCP]

State Roster:

AL: Last year conservatives defeated the “establishment”, and this year the establishment (with a few exceptions) voted with conservatives. All three top officers are theological conservatives and the 1VP, Pastor Joe Godfrey of Taylor Road BC, Montgomery, is an active conservative.

AK: The president is liberal and the two VPs go with the crowd. AK only has 60 churches and turnover of even a few pastor can sway annual meeting results. The state tends to the moderate side, although it may be slightly more conservative than last year. The budget increased 11%; no change to SBC portion of 33%.

AZ: The three top officers are neither actively liberal nor conservative. There was no action to increase the percent of the CP budget going to the SBC, but that is understandable since in July 2001 it had just been raised from 20% to 25%.

AR: All officers are conservative. Only for 1VP were there two nominees; Royce Sweatman, DOM North Arkansas Association, won with 52% over a liberal opponent. As noted above, the 2000 BFM was adopted as doctrinal guidance by 805-353, 69.5%. Reportedly the state has moved much more conservative over the last 12 months. Budget is $19 million of which 41.77% continues to go to the SBC.

CA: California Baptists have not definitively settled their stance. Officers are neither noted conservatives nor liberals. Last year CA overwhelmingly affirmed the 2000 BFM, but this year a motion was introduced for vote next year which would remove from the state constitution the requirement that churches be “in agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention” and replace it with the faith and practice of churches as taught in the Scriptures.” Also, the perennially resurrected motion to remove “Southern” from the state convention’s name was re-introduced for vote next year. Since 1985 there have been five unsuccessful attempts to do this, the last failing in 2000 by only 15 votes. Reportedly many conservatives have given up on the state and do not attend the annual meeting. Also, the “seeker-friendly” churches largely do not attend, being almost a denomination unto themselves. It is possible that if the vote next year to remove the BFM from the constitution succeeds, there may be about a 50/50 split and two state conventions. There is a rumor that CBF is trying to move into CA. Budget up 3% to $7.85 million; no change to SBC 30%.

CO: Thoroughly conservative and becoming even more so. All three officers active conservatives. Budget increased 7.4% to 4.5 million with SBC continuing to receive 29%.

DC: The DCBC is unique in that it is aligned not only with the SBC, but also with the American Baptist Churches/USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the latter a large black convention. By SBC standards the ABC is very liberal, certainly out of step with the SBC. For example, three featured speakers were Carolyn Gordon, a professor at Central Baptist Seminary; Randall Everett, president of the new liberal school in Northern Virginia, the John Leland Center for Theological Studies; and C. Welton Gaddy, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance. The convention affirmed 10 individuals, all women, who had been ordained during the previous 12 months. (See separate article about relations between DCBC and NAMB.) Budget of $1.5 million.

FL: Another strongly conservative state. All officers are conservatives. Placed BFM 2000 in bylaws last year. Of the $32.9 million budget 40% goes to SBC.

GA: GA is also a strong, conservative state. For example, Wayne Robertson, pastor of Morningside BC, Valdosta, the conservative nominee, defeated the “Mainstream” candidate (also backed by Mercer University – and the convention was held close to Mercer) 86% to 14%. GA has four VPs, and the top four vote getters are elected. This year there were four conservatives and three “mainstream” nominees. All the conservatives won; all liberals lost. Remarkably, this convention was in Mercer University’s backyard, and whereas Mercer is a center of liberal theology and agitation, conservatives won every vote. Clearly Mercer’s influence is waning, and the typical GA Baptist is happy with conservative biblical policies and actions, comfortable with conservative leadership. The budget approved is a record $48.3 million.

HW: Messengers defeated a motion to change the convention’s statement of faith from “the Baptist Faith and Message of 1963" to “any version that has been adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.” All three officers were elected unopposed, and all are theological conservatives. There has been no change in HW over the last year, but new, conservative graduates of SBC seminaries are beginning to be called. HW also adopted a record budget, $1 million with 31.5% continuing to go to the SBC CP.

IL: The new state president is an active conservative and the percentage of CP gifts going to the SBC was increased 0.5% to a total of 42.25%, one of the highest in the country. Affirmed all four BFMs: 1925, 1963, 1998, & 2000. This kind of action seems to be a temporizing tactic to avoid facing the issue of the 2000 BFM directly. Overall, IL seems to have moved somewhat more conservative during the last the year.

IN: A thoroughly conservative state. All officers were re-elected. The budget increased 4.1% to $4,606,849 with 32.5% of CP funds going to the SBC.

IA: In a fairly complex change, Iowa Baptists decreased the percentage of funds going to the SBC from 22% to 20% BUT also changed the formula so that the 20% will be computed from receipts rather than the previous disbursements. Because disbursements have been less than receipts, the BCI executive director expects the SBC to receive more dollars under the new rules. Like many new work states (95 total churches and missions in IA), the battle for the SBC is not a burning issue here.

KN (Kansas-Nebraska): KN is another new work convention with 99churches. The new president is a theological conservative and the 1VP even more so. However, there are questions about the state staff. The budget was raised 3.1% to $5,266,945 with no change tot he SBC’s 31.75%.

KY: Conservative candidates lost all three elections for president and VPs to candidates endorsed by Mainstream Baptists of Kentucky. On the other hand, messengers approved raising the SBC budget percentage to 36%, completing a three-year plan to do so. They also overwhelmingly adopted the Bible “as the basis for all our faith and practice” and acknowledged the value” of faith statements from the 1742 Philadelphia Confession of Faith to the 2000 BFM. This expedient is at best temporary, and we can expect the BFM issue to be revisited in future years. It is interesting that CBF activists opposed this recommendation as a “march toward creedalism. Two motions of note introduced by messengers were referred: (1) one would deny state convention membership to churches that cut ties to the SBC, and (2) the other would forward CP gifts that exceed budget needs to the International and North American Mission Boards. They will be reported again next year. KY remains a very important question mark. The budget was raised 3.49% to a record $23.2 million.

LA: A solid conservative victory. All three top officers are supporters of the LA Inerrancy Fellowship. Messengers approved a bylaw amendment which permits not more than two members of any church serving on a state board or committee and which prohibits more than one member of any church serving on the same committee. [Comment: Another instance of conservatives distributing influential positions to a broader base than liberals had done. TCP]

MD-DE: James Dixon, the first black president of MD-DE, was re-elected by acclamation. For 1VP incumbent Al Hunter, a moderate layman, defeated conservative pastor Harold Phillips. For conservatives the good news is that Rob Lilly, pastor FBC, Essex, was elected 2VP by acclamation. Conservatives also retained the pastors conference presidency. Messengers approved a $5,858,821 budget with 41% of CP receipts continuing to go to the SBC. There is no noticeable CBF effort, though there are a few pro-CBF churches. In summary, MD-DE is not strongly conservative but is not eroding to the left. Over the last year the state has become slightly more conservative, and time is on the conservative side.

MI: MI is quite – but not 100% – conservative. The primary example this year is that a proposed amendment to replace a reference to the 1963 BFM with the 2000 BFM received 106 yea votes to 54 nays, failing by two votes to receive the required two-thirds. The top three officers were re-elected, and the president is conservative both theologically and denominationally. MI has remained about the same over the last 12 months. The budget rose 2.85% to $3,128,592 with 30% continuing to flow to the SBC.

MN-WS: The budget grew by 4% to $2,241,781 with no change in the SBC’s 26%. Charles Dunning, lay member of Valley BC, Appleton, Wisconsin, elected president by acclamation.

MO: Conservatives won every vote, consolidating their victories over the last few years. See above for details. The approved budget is $19.2 million with the previous 35.75% going to the SBC.

MS: Here conservatives are holding the line but not strengthening their positions. Frank Pollard, prior president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and pastor for more than 21 years of FBC, Jackson, was elected president. While Jackson is reputedly theologically conservative, he has not helped the conservative resurgence. Another indicator, Richard Jackson – who actively opposed the resurgence – brought the “Bible treasure studies” at the state meeting. Unfortunately, MS conservatives are split into three factions which do not work together. Consequently, their potential success at state conventions is dissipated. The $30,047,997 budget represents growth of 1.58%, and 35% goes tot he SBC, no change.

MT: Actually, MT is a fellowship, not yet a full-fledged state convention, with 126 churches and missions. The conservative president and vice president were re-elected by acclamation. MT is a very conservative state. Messengers increased the budget by 5.7% to $1,319,375 and continue to send 22% to the SBC.

NV: A conservative state with no known CBF effort. The president and 1VP were re-elected by acclamation. The $2,442,772 budget represents an increase of 2.5% and the SBC portion was raised by 0.25% to 27.75%.

NE: NE is moving more conservative. Both the president, Tim Christian, and 1VP, Mark Ballard, are active conservatives and were elected by acclamation. Virginians may remember that Mark Ballard was pastor of Deerfield BC, Deerfield, from 1994 to 1998. Reportedly, CBF is even less influential this year than last. The 2% budget increase raises funding to $2,766,364 with the SBC 21% unchanged.

NM: NM has not been greatly affected by recent Baptist battles. Apparently there are only two churches with any relationship to CBF. Bylaws were amended to define a “cooperating Baptist church”; such a church must contribute to the convention in the 12 months immediately prior to an annual or special meeting. The budget was upped 3.16% to $3,366,026 with no change to the SBC portion of 30.5%

NY: The president and both VPs are reported to be theological conservatives, and the president is strong and active denominationally. Budget raised 6% to $3,280,259, and the SBC portion increased by 0.5% to 25%. There has so far been no action on the 2000 BFM. No churches give to CBF through the state convention though some donate to CBF directly.

NC: Jerry Pereira, pastor FBC, Swannanoa, 54% to 46% for Raymond Earp, layman, Calvary BC, Beaufort, past president of NC Baptist Men. Conservative Carolina Baptists endorsed Pereira while Mainstream Baptists of NC endorsed Earp. For 1VP CCB endorsed Bob Foy, layman, who won by 53.4% over 46.5% over Buddy Corbin, pastor, Calvary BC, Asheville, endorsed by MBNC. The budget was increased 3.8% to $37.13 million, but the SBC portion remains at 32%. The convention voted by more than 90% to change Wake Forest University and Meredith College from “affiliated” to “historical” educational institutions. Both will receive some scholarship money but will lose non-voting seats on the BSCNC Council on Christian Higher Education and will no longer be promoted by the BSCNC. There has been little or no apparent change over the last twelve months, but Southeastern graduates continue to fill NC pulpits which is cause for conservative optimism over the long term.

Northwest: Another new work area that is typically conservative. All new officers are conservative. SBC was increased 1% to 32% of CP receipts toward the $5,109,381 budget which is slightly below last year. The 2000 BFM was adopted as the NWBC statement of faith. Only two or three spoke against it, and the vote of approval was overwhelming. Seven new churches were welcomed.

OH: This is a soundly conservative state. Two theological and political conservatives vied for president with Guy Morton, pastor of Lakeview BC, Vermilion, elected. The 1VP, Bill Hounshell, pastor New Hope BC, Loveland, is also very conservative. 2VP Jerome Byrd, pastor of Good News BC, Cincinnatti, is theologically conservative, though his denominational stance in unknown. Messengers endorsed the BFM 2000 after turning back two attempts to defeat or avoid the vote. CBF is of almost no influence. No change over the last year. A 3.3% increase brings the budget to $7,769,980, and 40% continues to go to the SBC.

OK: Oklahoma continues to be one of the most staunchly conservative state conventions. Wendell Lang, pastor FBC, Pryor, was re-elected by acclamation. The $22.1 million CP budget sends 40% to the SBC. Messengers passed a resolution expressing their gratitude to God for being able to work with the SBC, their commitment to send 40% to the SBC CP, thanks to the Lord for calling some of their best people to mission fields, and encouragement to churches to give generously to the CP.

PA-SJersey: The budget was raised by 2.55% (to $3,118,024) and the SBC portion upped 0.1%, the tenth consecutive annual increase in CP giving to the SBC. Messengers unanimously approved a resolution previously adopted unanimously by the state executive board describing the “most recent Baptist Faith and Message as a resource for better understanding and teaching of Southern Baptist beliefs and practices.” It also describes the Bible as “God’s totally true and trustworthy Word, as our sole authority for faith and practice.” The executive board noted that “Board-elected staff [will] be asked to affirm the current Baptist Faith and Message statement and to explain any points of disagreement and, if elected, to work within the parameters of the current Baptist Faith and Message.” CBF has tried to penetrate the state but has made no progress.

SC: The state is conservative and becoming more so. All three officers are movement conservatives elected without opposition. A resolution passed supporting the SBC specifying, inter alia, the CP and the 2000 BFM. The $31.1 million budget is an increase of $1 million, and 40% is again set aside for the SBC.

TN: Outgoing president, Hollie Miller, delivered a very strong inerrantist Bible sermon. Many stood and applauded. The new president, Kevin Shrum, pastor Inglewood BC, who is conservative, won 876 to 705. However, both VPs are moderates. The budget was raised 1.9% (to $36,934,004) with no change in the SBC percentage of 37.5%. An extension of a special committee to study the role of the TBC president was approved. TN is the only state that does not give its president some type of appointive power. However, in a narrow (760-742) defeat for conservatives, also approved was addition to the committee of all former state presidents, most of whom are moderates. The good news is that conservatives are finally getting organized and consequently stronger. CBF, while active, is not strong.

SBTC: The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention continues to grow rapidly and is as biblically conservative as possible. Affiliated churches more than doubled in the last year to barely under 1,000. The new budget leapt from $4.3 million to $8.9 million. 51% of undesignated gifts go to the SBC. CP giving more than tripled in the past year. Messengers unanimously suspended the rules to consider a motion brought by Pastor Dwight McKissic, “We believe in the divine inspiration of the whole Bible and the inerrancy of the original manuscripts.” Then messengers unanimously adopted the statement. This is the same motion McKissic had offered in September to the Baptist General Convention of Texas executive board which summarily rejected it.

     Rudy Hernandez, SBTC president, announced tht he would not seek a second term because he will become a special assistant to SBTC executive director, Jim Richards, for Hispanic ministry, developing strategies for reaching the Texas Hispanic population and providing assistance to Hispanic congregations in evangelism, church planting, and leadership development.

BGCT: The Baptist General Convention of Texas continues to move away from the SBC and continues to suffer the consequences, notably in income. Next year’s budget is 8.8% below the 2001 budget as a result of many churches leaving the BGCT to join the SBTC and many other churches sending money directly to the SBC. One interesting fact is that, whereas last year 6,713 messengers from 1,423 churches attended the meeting, this year only 3,313 messengers from 865 churches were present. The BGCT research and information services manager, Clay price, said that in the last year the convention has lost 551 congregations and added 271 new ones.

     The new BGCT president, elected by acclamation, is Robert G. Campbell, pastor of Westbury BC, Houston, and former chairman of the study group which recommended redirection away from the SBC of some $4.3 million: approximately $4 million from the six SBC seminaries, all $345,000 from the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and reducing the SBC Executive Committee from $746,000 to $10,000. His church contributes to the BGCT, SBC, and CBF.

     The BGCT has revised the remittance form used by churches to send in donations. (As this is written, both forms are available on the BGCT website.) The 2001 form had three choices: (1) the BGCT adopted budget (which cut the SBC drastically and kept 72.3% for the BGAV), (2) a more traditional optional track which retained 67% for the BGAV and sent the other 33% to causes specified by the church, and (3) Other (under “Other” the church could designate its gifts to go anywhere in any percentages).

      The 2002 form is “simplified” according to BGCT spokesmen. It offers only two choices: (1) Churches are encouraged to check the first box which is highlighted in color and which now acknowledges that 72.3% is retained by the BGCT and [only] 27.7% goes to “Worldwide” purposes (with SBC entities receiving approximately 26%), and (2) “Other. (We encourage a contribution of at least 67% to the BGCT)”. Then churches must show the dollars or percent to go to each cause. Clearly, this is an attempt to nudge churches into contributing under the standard (72.3% to BGCT) budget. Whether this will have the desired effect or cause even more churches to move to the SBTC remains to be seen.

     Messengers soundly defeated a proposed motion to place the BGCT on record as supporting the 2000 BFM.

U-I: Utah-Idaho’s president, Eric Frye, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Salt Lake City, a solid conservative but who is not politically active, was re-elected by acclamation. U-I appears to be becoming slowly more conservative. The new state executive director is reportedly very solid. Messengers resolved that U-I Baptists “are in doctrinal unity and free and joyful compliance with all of the revised [SBC statement of beliefs] including in particular” the section on the family. They also “declare[d] our renewed commitment” to the BFM. The budget of $2,169,853 is unchanged as is the 21% going to the SBC.

VA-BGAV: In short, the BGAV continues to distance itself from the SBC as fast as it dares. Among major developments is the retirement of Reginald McDonough effective 28 February and election of John V. Upton, Jr., to succeed him. McDonough has led the BGAV during 15 extremely difficult years, and one does not have to agree with him substantively to sympathize with him in the difficulties he has faced. Upton is a graduate of Averett College and Southern Seminary. His wife, Deborah, is an associate pastor at FBC, Richmond. They were missionaries on Taiwan. Since 1995 Upton has been on the BGAV staff as leader of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s mission mobilization group.

     The approved budget for next year is $15.2 million, $200,000 more than the year just completed. The only funding change was in WM2, designating 2% of the non-BGAV funds for the new John Leland Center in Northern Virginia and reducing ministerial scholarship funding by the same percentage. In the three pre-designed budget tracks money other than BGAV funds in amount and destination is: WM1 34% to SBC, WM3 28% to CBF (nothing to SBC), WM2 (This is the default track. If your church takes no action to specify where your funds should go, it all goes to this track.) 28% to a series of line items. In WM2 11.32% of the money your church contributes goes to the SBC. Regarding theological education, the extremely liberal Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) receives 2.8% of a church’s money, the also liberal John Leland Center will receive 0.56%, and the six SBC seminaries together will get only 0.302%. These figures alone should be clear indicators of where the BGAV’s heart lies.

     Messengers approved the recommendations of the National Ministries Partners Study Committee: (1) That the BGAV partner directly with Baptists in other countries (without coordinating with the SBC International Missions Board, another step away from the SBC. One can anticipate that the next step on this path will be to reduce the money going to the SBC in WM2 to fund these direct partnerships.) While continuing ties to other mission sending organizations like the CBF & SBC. (2) If a missionary to be appointed jointly by the SBC’s North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the BGAV meets BGAV doctrinal standards but not NAMB’s, the BGAV will use funds in the WM2 budget track allocated to NAMB to fund the missionary (another device to reduce funds going to SBC entities while maintaining the veneer of continuing to fund NAMB at current percentages). (3) That the BGAV seek representation on the board of directors of the Baptist Center for Ethics (the liberal counterpart of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission). (4) That the John Leland Center for Theological Studies be included in the budget (as it was as described above). (5) That funds be increased for BTSR. (6) That the BGAV referral service for pastors require ministers to “pledge to do their best to keep their churches in the BGAV.” [Comment: While one can understand the BGAV concern considering the stead flow of churches to the SBCV, there would seem to be considerable contradiction here between the BGAV-professed emphasis on the autonomy of the local church and the priesthood of the believer and imposition of this requirement on pastors,] (7) That the mission board be authorized to serve ministers requesting alternate annuity, insurance, and protection plans (that is, alternatives to the SBC Annuity Board plans) while retaining the current relationship with the SBC Annuity Board, and that BGAV provide matching funds for alternative plans on the same basis as those funds now made available for Annuity Board participants. (8) That the BGAV request the Baptist World Alliance to reconsider its membership requirements (now they limit membership to national associations of churches, precluding BGAV and CBF membership).

WV: The biggest news from WV was the introduction of the new state executive director, our own Terry Harper, now former pastor of Colonial Heights BC, Colonial Heights which he served for 17 years. The WV budget was raised 4.8 % to $2,299,522, and the portion going to the SBC increased 0.5% to 37.5%. The state constitution was amended to replace reference to the 1963 BFM with “This Convention shall consist of messengers who are members of and elected by Southern Baptist churches which are in agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention and which cooperate with, fellowship with, and contribute to the work of the convention.” Clearly, WV is a sound, conservative state.

Resolutions: Not surprisingly, 25 states adopted resolutions of support for our military and national leaders in view of the war on terrorism, and often included pledges of prayer support for victims and their families. Five states passed resolutions of concern about cloning and/or stem cell research. Four addressed some aspect of strengthening marriage. Three passed resolutions encouraging prayer for spiritual awakening. Three adopted anti-gambling resolutions. And two each produced resolutions on sanctity of human life, Islam, and affirming scriptural authority.

The Future: Over the coming months it will be important to watch developments in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky as these states work out their identity in Southern Baptist life. Because of the large percentage of SBC churches in Texas, it is always important to be aware of what happens there. I believe we can anticipate more of the same: the BGCT will almost certainly continue to distance itself from the SBC and alienate hundreds of its churches in the process. The result will be a steady flow of churches out of the BGCT and into the SBTC.

     Here in Virginia one may expect a continuation of what we have seen over the last five years: as churches learn the truth about the biblical and denominational stances of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, the SBTC will continue to grow by approximately 40 to 45 churches a year with 30 to 35 of those being former BGAV affiliates. The other SBTC accessions will be new church plants and a few formerly independent churches.

     Our Executive Director Doyle Chauncey and his counterpart in Texas, Jim Richards, and their executive board members carry heavy and critically important responsibilities. Please pray that the Lord will continue to guide their decisions and sustain their energies.