Virginia may open to outsiders
___RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) --The Baptist General Association of Virginia's 1,471 congregations may find themselves joined by churches in other states due to clarification of an affiliation policy by the BGAV's policy-making body.
___A statement on affiliation was adopted by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board at the request of its executive committee. The action was taken in response to a handful of churches outside Virginia that have asked about affiliation with the BGAV, said Reginald McDonough, executive director.
___"We have had inquiries from churches in other states: 'Would we be welcome in the BGAV?'" McDonough told members of the mission board April 3-4 in Richmond.
___McDonough said nothing in the BGAV constitution prohibits affiliation by churches from out of state. In fact, a few congregations just across state lines in North Carolina and West Virginia have been active members for decades. McDonough declined to say from where the recent inquiries have come, but he indicated they were not states bordering Virginia.
___Despite the historic presence of a few out-of-state churches in the BGAV, "our focus has always been on Virginia," McDonough said. But clarification of the affiliation policy was needed because "we really don't have a procedure for bringing in churches beyond our borders."
___The affiliation statement, which would be given to any church requesting BGAV membership, cites current financial requirements for membership and lists the BGAV's statement of vision and values, as well as resolutions on theological and social issues adopted by the association during the past 10 years.
___"There may be some churches that aren't a fit for us or us for them," said First Vice President Reggie Warren, who presented the statement to the mission board. "We wanted to establish a covenant so they would join us with their eyes wide open."
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!