CHATMOSS BAPTIST IS FIRST CHURCH TO PETITION SBCV FOR MEMBERSHIP

                                                                                                                                             Vol. IX, No. 5, May 1996

Forty three pastors and laymen from the Martinsville and Danville areas met for the first time April 16th [1996] at Chatmoss Baptist Church in Martinsville for a regional Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia meeting. The purpose of the meeting was fellowship, worship, and information. Newly elected state Executive Director of the SBCV, Doyle Chauncey, spoke to the group encouraging conservatives to be courageous in taking a stand on biblical inerrancy, full support of the SBC, sound doctrine, and evangelism.

Rev. Robert Bailey, pastor of Chatham Heights Baptist Church of Martinsville, asked Chauncey why the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship should receive so much criticism as a splinter group. Wasn't the SBCV another splinter group? Chauncey stated that one basic difference between the SBCV and the CBF was that the SBCV was pro-SBC while CBF was anti-SBC. Chauncey went on to say that the BGAV was also moving away from the SBC. Chauncey said that he "likes the changes that have taken place in the Southern Baptist Convention."

Other speakers included T. C. Pinckney, editor of The Baptist Banner, and Tom Houston, pastor of Laurel Hill Baptist Church, Charlottesville, who also serves on the Regional and Associational Committee of the SBCV. Pastor Tom Houston spoke about the importance of regular SBCV meetings.

Rodney Houston, pastor of Chatmoss Baptist Church, presented Doyle Chauncey with a letter from the church petitioning the SBCV for formal membership. While 109 Churches are sending monies to the SBCV, Chatmoss Baptist Church is the first to apply formally for SBCV membership. The SBCV Executive Committee will review the petition and, if it is approved, will present Chatmoss Baptist to the SBCV body for final approval at the next annual meeting on 16 September at Grove Avenue Baptist, 8701 Ridge Road, Richmond.

Pastor Rodney Houston, who also serves on the SBCV Public Relations Committee, hopes that other conservative churches will follow Chatmoss' lead.

In addition to the above, there was special music, an offering for The Baptist Banner, and dinner at the church.

The next meeting for this regional group will be held at Chatmoss Baptist Church Tuesday, May 21, at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Houston hopes that the next meeting will establish the purpose and objectives of this new regional group. All conservatives who are interested in organizing should attend. For more information, contact Rodney Houston, phone 540-638-4012 or 540-6381502.