SBCV outgives BGAV!

by T. C. Pinckney                                                                                    Vol. XV, No. 10, Nov/Dec. 2002

It is startling to learn that the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia with some 370 churches affiliated actually sent more money to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program than did the Baptist General Association of Virginia which has about 1,400 churches. The following figures cover the first eight months of both state conventions’ fiscal years.

                                    2001                        2002                            Change

SBCV                $1,916,761.50        $2,309,730.47                   +20.50%

BGAV                $2,194,524.47        $2,081,416.76                      -5.15%

As surprising as this appears at first, there is a very simple reason. Whereas the SBCV budget sends 50% of all undesignated funds to the SBC Cooperative Program, the BGAV only sends 11.3%.

Note: the BGAV 11.3% figure is what is given in the 2002 “default” WM-2 budget track. (“Default” simply means that if your church does not select or design a different track, your church’s money is automatically distributed under WM-2. So WM-2 is the budget track preferred by the BGAV.) Moreover, in the recently approved 2003 budget, the WM-2 track will only send 7.85% to the SBC!

Another interesting figure is that if the BGAV had given the same 50% to the SBC that the SBCV does, instead of the $2,081,416.76 actually sent, the BGAV would have given $18,419,617.34 to the CP.

Ask yourself which Virginia state convention is more in harmony with the SBC. Ask yourself with which Virginia state convention your church should be associated.

Now, if you believe doctrine is not really that important, you will be happier in the BGAV. If you believe that the Bible’s clear instruction that pastors should be men is irrelevant today, stay with the BGAV. If you believe that homosexuality is not sinful, by all means remain in the BGAV. If you believe that as long as we all work together pleasantly it doesn’t really matter what we believe, the BGAV is the place for you. If you consider that the Bible is a record of man’s search for God, you will find lots of company in the BGAV.

On the other hand, if in your heart you know that doctrine is important, if you understand that the Bible is God’s perfect, written revelation to man, theo-pneustos – God-breathed, if you accept that pastors should be men, if you know that homosexual acts are sinful, if you agree with Amos 3:3 (“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”), then you and your church will be more productive for the Lord working together with the SBCV.

Pray about it.