May 20, 2002
Virginia Baptists approve new vision
___CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (ABP)--Virginia Baptists overwhelmingly endorsed a new missions vision May 10 at a called meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
___The meeting drew more than 2,500 messengers and visitors to First Baptist Church in Charlottesville.
___Executive Director John Upton, who introduced the plan called "Kingdom Advance" about a month earlier, said it would prepare the state association to minister more effectively in the 21st century while offering "a seat at the table" for its diverse 1,440 congregations.
___The vote authorizes an ad hoc committee to draw up recommendations to implement the plan. Messengers will consider those recommendations at the BGAV's annual meeting Nov. 8-9 in Virginia Beach.
___A separate motion also authorized the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions to include allocations for Kingdom Advance, which could stretch the offering beyond Virginia causes.
___Upton has estimated about $1 million annually in new money is needed to fund Kingdom Advance. The state association's budget committee will recommend how to finance the plan.
___Fewer than 100 messengers voted against the Alma Hunt offering expansion, according to estimates by observers. About two dozen voted against Kingdom Advance entirely.
___The unusual called meeting tallied the largest attendance of any BGAV meeting since 1994. Preliminary figures indicate 2,452 messengers registered, along with 110 visitors. About 385 congregations were represented.
___The new plan calls for funding and administering several categories of mission workers in Virginia, the United States and around the world. It also would focus on church starting and revitalization, identifying and developing leaders for the next generation and helping pastors and churches to minister effectively.
___"There is no program or structure yet," Upton said. "This is a process, not a program. You are invited in at the beginning of the process. ... Everything you say will be videotaped and written down and will be taken into consideration. You are at the front end of this piece."
___Kingdom Advance envisions a flexible approach to missions that would avoid competing with other Baptist bodies, such as the Southern Baptist Convention's International and North American mission boards, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship or the Baptist World Alliance.
___Instead, it would expand current cooperation with these and other entities and open up opportunities for Virginia Baptists to partner with other Baptists around the world. Upton and other leaders have insisted they will not launch an effort to lead Virginia Baptists out of the SBC or undercut the SBC's Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong missions offerings.
___"BGAV local churches will decide, in the Baptist way, what they will support. We will offer options and opportunities to all of them who wish to participate," Upton said.
___Although approved overwhelmingly, critics of the plan predicted it would be doctrinally lax and loosen ties to the Southern Baptist Convention.
___"Today is a sad day for the Southern Baptist Convention and many Virginia Baptists," said Rick Sadler, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Charlottesville. "What we have is not Kingdom Advance but a kingdom divided."
___Upton replied that his prayer is that history books would one day record that "Baptists divided became Baptists united" because of the historic vote. Messengers responded with a standing ovation.
___"We all may disagree about some things," Upton said, "but we are going to find things we can agree on and get on with the main thing--the gospel and ministry of Jesus Christ."
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