November 17, 1999
Virginia Baptists affirm
'63 doctrinal statement
___RICHMOND, Va. (ABP)--Virginia Baptists joined Texas Baptists last week in distinguishing themselves from the Southern Baptist Convention by affirming the 1963 version of the Baptist Faith & Message statement.
___Messengers to the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia Nov. 9-10 affirmed the 1963 document, excluding an addition on family adopted by the SBC last year that calls for wives to submit to their husbands.
___The non-binding resolution on the Baptist Faith & Message affirmed the confession of faith as "a sturdy and comprehensive statement of the shared values, convictions and distinctives of Virginia Baptists as we enter the new millennium."
___While the Virginia resolution did not specifically attack the new article on marriage and family, a messenger's attempt to include the revised version in Virginia's affirmation failed decisively.
___Also, messengers voted to change the state convention's 169-year-old relationship with the University of Richmond by approving a plan to phase out financial support for the school and no longer nominate trustees to its board.
___Instead, Virginia Baptists will support a Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies, to be housed on the Richmond campus.
___Messengers adopted the measure in response to the university's decision to add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy governing student, faculty and staff recruitment and promotion.
___The decision effectively ends governing and financial ties with Virginia Baptists, who founded the school in 1830.
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