BGAV-CBF Co-Sponsorship                                                                             

by   T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                     Vol. IX, No. 6, June/July 1996

     A while back I received a copy of The Leader, which bills itself as "An occasional report to Virginia Baptist leaders from the Center for Creative Church Leadership Development" and which states that it is "published by the Virginia Baptist General Board..."

     Of interest, on its front page The Leader says, "The Center for Creative Church Leadership Development has linked up with others in strategic alliances in order to train the most leaders in the best leadership approaches, ... As you read the 'menu' of 1996 leadership center offerings listed inside this brochure, you'll see a wide variety of strategic alliances in our future."

     Inside the brochure are listed 13 events. One scheduled for 26-27 June [1996] in Richmond is titled "Creating the Teaching Congregation." In this case the "strategic alliance" is with the "Cooperative Baptist Fellowship." CBF will be holding its annual general assembly in Richmond 27-29 June.

     Do Virginia Baptists really want their state association allying strategically with CBF, a liberal organization that believes there are errors and contradictions in the Bible, and does its best to pull away from the Southern Baptist Convention money, churches, seminary students, and missionaries?

     Which raises another question: Do you know where your church Cooperative Program gifts go? Thousands of Virginia Baptists do not.

     The BGAV has three budget tracks (WM-1, WM-2, & WM-3) for funds going out of state. Under all three the BGAV uses 64% of the money for its purposes and only 36% goes to SBC or other out of state causes. If your church has not made a conscious decision and so instructed the state treasurer, your money automatically goes to the WM-2 track. That alternative sends only half of the 36% to the SBC budget. The other half flows to a number of line items selected by the state. While several of these are SBC agencies, several are very liberal groups which compete with the SBC. And if you check the changes in WM-2 over the last five or six years, you find that the percentage going to SBC entities decreases and that going to liberal organizations increases. Details on the three tracks are found on p 39 of the 1995 Virginia Baptist Annual.

     WM-3, however, is even worse than WM-2. If your church contributes to WM-3, not a penny goes to the SBC. All the money going out of Virginia is sent to the CBF!

     The WM-1 track is most similar to the way Virginia donated its funds before about 1990. That is, all the money beyond the BGAV in-state budget goes to the SBC.

     Churches also have the option of designing their own unique track, voting on it in a church business meeting, and then writing the BGAV treasurer and telling him how to distribute their contributions. If your church selects this route, I suggest that you include a xerox copy of your letter of instructions with each check you send in. Make it easy for the folks in Richmond to comply with your church's decision.

     Finally, increasing numbers of conservative churches are deciding to send all or part of their gifts to and through the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. SBCV receipts are 68% ahead of the same period last year! 86 churches have contributed between 1 December 1995 and 31 May 1996; 21 of these are first time donors.

     However you prefer your church to give, whether you are moderate or conservative, you should know which way your church contributes. You might ask your pastor, your church treasurer, or a member of your stewardship committee. Baptists need to be informed. Are you?