More Revival than Business ... SBCV’s Annual Meeting

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                    Vol. XVII, No. 9, Nov/Dec 2004

With the theme “Risking to Renew”, the eighth annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia was held Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening, 8-9 November at Spotswood Baptist Church, Fredericksburg.

Each session included at least one message brought by outstanding speakers: SBC President, Bobby Welch, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President, Danny Akin; Hershael York, pastor, Buck Run BC, Frankfort, KY, and Associate Professor of Christian Preaching, Southern Seminary; SBCV Executive Director, Doyle Chauncey; SBCV President, Marc Becton, pastor, Grove Avenue BC, Richmond; Tim Piland, pastor, Nansemond River BC, Suffolk; and Voddie Baucham, author, conference leader, and adjunct Professor at the College of Biblical Studies, Houston, TX. With such powerful preaching, the meeting was characterized by “Amen!” and “praise the Lord!” much more than by “yea” and “nay”.

Although the dominant atmosphere was one of praise and worship, business was also conducted. Messengers approved the affiliation requests of 15 churches seeking unique alignment and three for dual status. Three churches changed from dual to unique during the year, two churches withdrew, and one dissolved. These bring total SBCV churches to 346 unique, 44 dual, and 39 church plants underway for a grand total of 429, compared to 158 at our first annual meeting in 1997. Three other churches applied for affiliation too late to be voted in at this meeting and so will be considered at the 2005 meeting.

The approved 2005 SBCV budget is $7,750,000 ... 11% above 2004. Of course, half of all undesignated receipts will continue to be sent to the SBC. However, that 50% does not include designations. If one considers all receipts, designated and undesignated, some 68% of all gifts flow through the SBCV to the SBC.

The new president is Carl Weiser, pastor, Hyland Heights Baptist church, Lynchburg, who also serves as a trustee of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and as chairman of the SBCV executive board. Jeff Ginn, pastor, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Colonial Heights, a former IMB missionary to Colombia and a current IMB trustee and SBCV executive board member, is the new first Vice president. Thurmand Hayes, pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Yorktown, and SBCV executive board member, was chosen the new Second Vice president. The new Secretary is Jeff Myer, associate pastor at River Oak Church, a new church start in Chesapeake. All elections were by acclamation.

Three resolutions were reported by the Resolutions Committee and approved by the messengers. The first, “Supporting a Federal Marriage Amendment”, affirms that “biblical and legal marriage can only be between one man and one woman”, calls on pastors and churches to resist attempts to legitimize same -sex marriage, and encourages Baptists to call on our representatives to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment.

The second resolution, “On the War on Terrorism”, opposes terrorism, commends the American people and especially our military, police, and firefighters for their steadfastness after September 11, applauds President Bush for his moral clarity in denouncing terrorists, and calls on Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia to pray for the conversion of the people of all nations.

The third resolution opposes the secularization of our culture. Its last resolve clause reads, “That we will be actively involved in supporting legislation that promotes or agrees with biblical values and will likewise oppose any legal efforts to legitimize values that are contrary to our Judeo-Christian values.”

Another resolution had been submitted to the Committee but not reported out. The drafter, T. C. Pinckney, moved that messengers vote on whether to address it. The motion was deferred to the final, miscellaneous business time. At that slot messengers narrowly approved considering the resolution. After Pinckney spoke in favor of it and Pastor Randy Hahn, chairman of the Resolutions Committee opposed, the chair called time and took the vote. The resolution failed.

In accord with the Risking to Rescue theme, each session included an “SBCV Ministry Report”. Senior Associate Director of the SBCV, Geoff Hammond gave a brief introduction to each segment which led into an interesting video interviewing people at the church or mission being described. These reports focussed on church plants and churches which had declined but subsequently found renewal.

A major emphasis was on churches planting churches. As noted above, the SBCV currently has 39 church plants underway. And the SBCV has a goal to have 25% of our churches helping plant new churches.

The SBCV recognizes churches which sponsor plants with a lovely “Eagle Award”, a bronze statuette some sixteen inches high. Ten Eagles were presented to churches this year.

Pastor and Mrs. Clyde Coleman were honored with a special award and standing ovation recognizing their 50 years of ministry (which continues) at Travelers Rest Baptist Church. And layman John Simms was honored by the presentation of the Nehemiah Leadership Award for his multiple service.

There were 785 registered messengers and 153 registered guests for a total of 938, though if we include those who did not register, total attendance was approximately 1,100.

The next meeting will be held at Grove Avenue Baptist Church, Richmond, 14-15 November, 2005.