"Transition Report and New Constitution and Bylaws Highlight SBCV Annual Meeting”

Annual Meeting, Monday, September 29 and Bible Conference, Tuesday, September 30

Green Ridge Baptist Church - Roanoke

                                                                                                                      Vol. X, No. 7, August 1997

The first annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia since the formation of the new state convention last year will convene on Monday, September 29, in Roanoke. It will be an inspirational meeting as usual, but the afternoon session will include important business items. Those matters will include (1) election of officers and committees, (2) 1997-98 budget, (3) Transition Report from the special committee appointed last year, and (4) adoption of a new Constitution and Bylaws.

Every participating church will receive, in advance of the meeting, copies of the reports to review. Highlights from the Transition Report include: (1) action already taken to complete operating agreements with the Annuity Board, North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, and the Baptist Sunday School, (2) recommendation to employ additional personnel in the areas of church planting, evangelism, and church development, and (3) relocation of the home office to the Richmond area.

The Constitution and Bylaws Committee will ask messengers to set aside the present constitution and adopt a new one that will Include: (1 ) establishing a new mission and purpose statement, (2) changing the name of the Executive Committee to the Executive Board, (3) increasing the size of the Board to meet new regional representation requirements, and (4) establishing a special membership provision for individuals presently participating in the SBCV from non-SBCV churches. The Committee recommends that the acceptance of new special memberships be closed at the end of this fiscal year (30 September). The Executive Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee will not recommend changing the name of the new convention at this time.

Speakers for the Annual Meeting and Bible Conference include: Dr. Darrell Robinson, Evangelism Assistant to the President of the North American Mission Board; Dr. Danny Akin, Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Dr. Danny Lovett, Dean of Theology, at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kelly Burris, Senior Pastor of Kempsville Baptist in Virginia Beach, and Dr Dan Gregg, Senior Pastor of Wayne Hills Baptist In Waynesboro, will speak at the Bible Conference on Tuesday.

The Annual Meeting begins promptly at 2 P.M. Monday and will extend into the evening. The Bible Conference begins early Tuesday morning and concludes that evening. No activities are scheduled for Wednesday.

Contact the SBCV at 757-363-0153 for information on housing and arrangements as well as additional copies of the reports to be presented. Friends of the new convention are invited to attend along with elected messengers from participating churches.