Baptist General Association of Virginia

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In continuous service since its founding in 1823, the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) is an umbrella organization of churches that supports and assists them in their various ministries and missions.^[1] Its Virginia Baptist roots date back to 1771.^[2] According to its Web site, it has a strong commitment to historic Baptist beliefs, one of which is full recognition of the autonomy of the local churches. The BGAV has a $14.2 million budget to fund their ministries in 2007. More than 1,400 Baptist churches choose to affiliate with the BGAV.^[3]

Historically, Virginia's Southern Baptist congregations have held moderate views. The national fundamentalist shift prompted the formation of two statewide organizations.^[4] The BGAV and the Baptist General Convention of Texas are the only two Baptist state conventions that remained "moderate" after the successful takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) by fundamentalist/conservatives in the last decade of the 20th century. It was a reversal from the national SBC where the moderates left and the conservatives stayed. The majority of state conventions have continued to affiliate primarily with the SBC. However, the state conventions in Texas and Virginia openly challenged the new directions, announcing a "dual affiliation" with contributions to both the SBC's Cooperative Program and the CBF. They objected to certain changes in the 2000 revision of the Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M).^[5] Those changes were thought by many to make the document a "creed." Historic Baptist tradition has always opposed the use of creeds. The BGAV has reaffirmed its support of the earlier (1963) Baptist Faith and Message which does not have those changes. Since the BGAV and its individual member churches are considered autonomous, some churches in the BGAV have endorsed the newer 2000 BF&M. Their choice does not affect their relationship with the BGAV.

As of October, 2006, some 262 churches had left the BGAV to align with Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia (SBCV), a pro-Southern Baptist Convention group formed in 1996 after failing to change the moderate-led BGAV from within. Another 42 churches align dually with both conventions.^[6]

The BGAV is a member of the Baptist World Alliance. John V. Upton, Jr., Executive Director of the BGAV, said, "Virginia Baptists have been a part of the BWA since its beginning in 1905. Our membership up to this point had been through the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The decision of the SBC to leave the BWA has automatically removed our membership. In this annual meeting Virginia Baptists have overwhelmingly voted to maintain that historic and strategic relationship."^[7] The BGAV contributes more to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) than does any convention or union in the world.^[8] In 2005, the BGAV had a budget of $14.4 million and elected the first African American officer (second vice president) in the BGAV's entire history.

The Baptist General Association of Virginia includes many churches with women deacons and ministers. It assists congregations that want to channel funds to the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). In 2006, the BGAV received some Georgia Baptist churches requesting affiliation across the border.^[9] Since the BGAV does not prevent its member churches from dually aligning with another Baptist group, some of its members may also affiliate with the more conservative Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), with which the BGAV has considerable disagreement.^[10] The move is unusual for Southern Baptist churches which almost universally affiliate with conventions in their states or region. But it represents a growing interest in denominational links by affinity rather than geography, say some observers.^[11]

An example of the breach between the BGAV and the SBC was a strong accusation made in 2004 by the Virginia Women's Missionary Union (WMU) against the SBC. A statement titled "Declaration of the Dignity of Women" alleged discrimination "against women in the work of Christian ministry." It took particular aim at the Southern Baptist Convention's Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) 2000 statement of beliefs.^[5] The BF&M states that the office of pastor should be held only by men. Further, the SBC no longer endorses women to chaplaincy roles that call for a "fully qualified member of the clergy or that have a role or function similar to that of a pastor." Referencing "humiliating affronts to the dignity of Christian women," the Virginia WMU declaration states:

We draw the strength to declare, with prophetic conviction:

That we reject all blanket discrimination against women in the work of Christian ministry, in particular, as elaborated in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message;^[5]

That we reject the findings and policy of the North American Mission Board with regard to the non-endorsement of women to chaplaincy positions.

That we reject any devaluation of women worldwide."^[12]

Although the Baptist General Association of Virginia has been considered "liberal" by conservatives in the "new" (post-takeover) Southern Baptist Convention, the BGAV opposes homosexual behavior, homosexual church leadership, and rejects any indiscriminate attitude toward abortion as being contrary to the biblical view.^[6] After several attempts at resolving their differences, the BGAV recently cut its ties with Averett University after a 145-year relationship.^[13] The action followed ongoing controversy over the formation of Averett’s Gay Straight Student Alliance, a student organization, and Gay Pride Week activities.^[14]