Update on the SBCV                                                                                       

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                       Vol. IX, No. 9, October 1996

SBCV Meeting: Final Count: The body which met at Grove Avenue BC on 16 September and voted to declare the SBCV a separate state convention was comprised of 469 registered messengers from 91 churches, a final tally reports. The body also adopted a 1996-97 fiscal year budget of $774,000 ... more than three times the SBCV’s 95-96 budget of $221,000. During 1996-97 the SBCV will contribute 50% of undesignated receipts to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program Budget, the only state convention to give so high a percentage. A few years ago Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida gave 50%, but they have subsequently reduced their percentages going to the SBC.

SBC Recognition: Dr. Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee, has written SBCV executive director Doyle Chauncey the following:

           “Thank you for informing me in writing, as president and chief executive officer of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, of the action taken by the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia on September 16, 1996, to constitute as a state convention in Virginia designed to cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention in facilitating, extending, and enlarging the Great Commission ministries of Southern Baptist churches, to the glory of God the Father, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, upon the authority of Holy Scripture, and by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

           “In its statistical reporting, the Executive Committee will begin listing both the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Southern Baptist Conservatives fo Virginia.

           “Representation of Southern Baptists in Virginia on Southern Baptist boards and committees will be based on the total number of non-duplicating members of churches affiliating with wither or both of the two conventions. That number may be determined as the research staff of the Sunday School board processes Annual Church Profiles according to church identification numbers. That will prevent inflation of the number of Southern Baptists in Virginia through dually aligned churches..”

Progress with Annuity Board: A meeting with Annuity Board representatives is scheduled for 12 November to complete contract terms. We anticipate that it will be possible for the SBCV to begin a relationship with the Annuity Board starting in January 1997. Hopefully this will provide enough time to begin providing annuity benefits and matching annuity for SBCV aligned churches early in the first quarter of next year. The level of protection and matching annuity terms have not yet been determined, but we will keep you informed of progress. Until these arrangements are complete, continue to send annuity amounts through the BGAV.

Romania Mission Trip: The Foreign Mission Board and SBCV are cooperating on a mission project to Romania scheduled for 21 July - 1 August 1997. We will need at least 12 construction workers and 6 others to help in witnessing. Contact SBCV office for more information: fax 757-460-1104; phone 757-363-0153.

Virginia Missions: Virginia Missions Special Offering gifts during September were $4,737. Our goal is $10,000. If your church needs envelopes and bulletin inserts, contact the SBCV office. The first $10,000 of the Special Offering will go to fund a matching pledge to Crossraods BC, Leesburg. Any amount above $10,000 will go to the Mission Site Fund.