State Convention Preview
by T.C. Pinckney Vol. V, No. 6, November 1992
The BGAV annual meeting will meet 10-11 November at The Pavilion in Virginia Beach. On Monday, the ninth, our conservative-sponsored Virginia Baptist Bible Conference will begin at 1:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Norfolk (see separate article). This article examines the major issues likely to face messengers.
Elections: The three major elections are for state president and two vice presidents. All three positions are important because many appointments are made by majority vote of these three officers. The state constitution requires that elections be held Wednesday afternoon. Voting for president usually occurs around 2:45 with the ballots for first and second vice presidents coming in the next hour and a half. By custom the one year presidency alternates between pastors and laity with this year being the turn of a layman.
President: Moderates will nominate Walter Harrow, member of Zoar Church, Deltaville. He has served as a member of the Virginia General Board and is currently on the BGAV Committee on Boards and Committees. Conservatives will nominate T.C. Pinckney, member of Good News Church, Alexandria. T.C. has served as Chairman of the SBC Committee on Nominations and currently is a member of the SBC Executive Committee. By virtue of that office he also serves on the BGAV General Board. A retired Air Force Brigadier General and fighter pilot, T.C. had 189 F-4 combat missions in Viet Nam. He also taught at the Air Force Academy, attended the National War College, served in several capacities in the Pentagon, the Department of State, and on the National Security Council staff. He is the unofficial coordinator for conservative Virginia Baptists.
1VP: Moderates intend to nominate Eddie Freeman, pastor of Broadus Memorial, Charlottesville. He is Chairman of the present BGAV Committee on Boards and Committees. Conservatives will name Al Gilbert, Pastor of Liberty Church, Hampton. He has served Southern Baptist churches for more than 20 years in Georgia, Texas, and Virginia (6 years in Northern Virginia, 4 at Liberty). Al is a graduate of Southwestern and presently serves on the Peninsula Association Finance Committee. He has previously served on their Evangelism Committee and on a New Work Strategy study. His wife Karen is in her fifth year on the Foreign Mission Board.
2VP: Moderates will nominate Margaret Wayland of West Main Church, Danville, who was president of the state WMU 1988-92. Conservatives will support Kelly Burris, pastor of Kempsville Church, Virginia Beach. Burris was on the General Board in South Carolina before being called to Kempsville four years ago. He serves on the Administrative Committee of the Norfolk Association and previously chaired the Finance Committee. This past June he was elected to the Brotherhood Commission of the SBC. He is a graduate of Southeastern Seminary and recently received his doctorate from Trinity.
Budget: As of this writing specific budget issues are not known, but every year critically important matters emerge. Up through 1989 the budget was reasonably simple, with 62% going to the state and 38% to the SBC Cooperative Program. In 1990, the Annuity/Protection Plan was made a separate, "preferred" section accounting for 4% of the budget; the state percentage was reduced to 59.5%, and the SBC percentage to 36.5%. The effect of this change was to shift $250,800 of the Annuity Plan cost from the state and take that amount from the SBC.
The 1991 budget marked a major change. The Annuity Plan remained a preferred item at 4%. The Virginia State Missions Budget was raised back to 61.9% (thus neatly shifting ALL the cost of the Annuity Plan out of the state budget and taking the money from world missions!). And the World Missions Budget (formerly SBC Missions) was further reduced to 34%. Of that 34% only half goes to the SBC Cooperative Program with the other half being designated by the state to eight different causes: the SBC Foreign Mission Board, the SBC Home Mission Board, the SBC Annuity Board, the liberal Baptist Joint Committee, the Baptist World Alliance, Associated Baptist Press (set up to compete with the SBC Baptist Press), Partnership Missions, and a pro rata seminary fund. The 1992 budget refined the 1991 model. Percentages remained the same, but the very liberal Americans United item was moved from the state budget to World Missions and the liberal seminary in Richmond was added.
Comment: The result of these changes is that if a church participates in the official state budget, only 17% of its donations go to the SBC Cooperative Program. Thus, whereas the state started with 62% and now gets 61.9%, the SBC Cooperative Program started with 38% and now gets 17%. In fact the state is even better off because a number of items have been moved from its budget to "World Missions." Hopefully this background will help messengers review the new budget and discern the impact of any further proposed changes.
Homosexuality: Undoubtedly there will be one or more resolutions offered, with conservatives likely trying to place the BGAV on record as supporting the SBC actions in disfellowshipping two North Carolina churches (one of which "blessed the union" of two homosexual men and the other of which licensed a practicing homosexual to preach) and moderates attempting to broaden and water down the statement as much as possible.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday: For several years conservatives have fought to incorporate such an anti-abortion day in the state calendar. Word has it that this year moderates will agree to a very diluted version to be observed on a day different than the one the SBC sets aside. This insistence on a different day seems petty and peevish. Perhaps someone will think better of it before November.
Other Items: Of course there may be other matters raised, so messengers are urged to remain alert and to be present for all business. Regard your presence at the convention as a privilege and duty before God to act in accordance with His wishes to prove the best possible stewards and servants.