Comments on the BGAV

by Jeffrey T. Riddle                                                                                        Vol. XIX, No. 3, March 2006

     Pastor, Jefferson park B.C., Charlottesville, VA

[Introduction: The following is excerpted from the Evangelical Forum Newsletter, January 2006. These are the concluding paragraphs of an article about the November 2005 BGAV meeting. Jefferson Park is affiliated with the BGAV, not the SBCV. Reprinted with permission. TCP]

The BGAV leadership continues to ignore the warning signs of decline. Numbers should never be used to judge the health of a ministry, but neither should they be ignored. The “spin” of BGAV budget shortfalls as being the result of disaster relief simply does not hold water in comparison to the SBCV’s continued growth under that same donor pressure. The “spin” of low messenger support as due to lack of conflict is also suspect when the SBCV has now eclipsed the BGAV’s attendance not by generating interest from conflict but by enthusiasm for its gatherings.* The BGAV leadership has not yet honestly addressed the fact that enthusiasm and support for the BGAV has waned in proportion to its distancing itself from clear confessional commitments and support for the SBC.

What is more, in spite of decades of moderate control of the BGAV and negative spin on the SBC reformation, BGAV churches continue heavily to support SBC causes with their hearts and pocketbooks. One way to track the pulse of the congregations is by looking at designated giving (not at money funneled through BGAV budget tracks). According to the treasurer’s report, as of September 30, 2005, BGAV churches gave $2.9 million to the SBC’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and $1.3 million to the SBC’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. In comparison, only $602,195 was designated to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Global Mission Offering; $7,217 to the Baptist World Alliance (remember, however, that the BWA received $119,858 through the BGAV “cooperative program” budget plan); and $0.00 to Kingdom Advance New Initiatives.

*There were only 850 messengers at the BGAV meeting while the SBCV recorded a record 1,222 in attendance.

[To subscribe to the Evangelical Forum Newsletter email jeffparkchurch@juno.com. You may also visit the EFN website: www.jpbc.org/ef.html.]