Baptist General Association of Virginia

Last updated
Baptist General Association of Virginia
Classification Evangelical Christianity
Scripture Bible
Theology Baptist
Polity Congregational
Associations Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist World Alliance
Region Virginia, USA
Headquarters Henrico County, Virginia, Virginia
Origin1823
Separations Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia
Congregations1,348
Members610,000
Official website www.bgav.org

The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV), founded in 1823, is an umbrella organization of Baptist churches in Virginia. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance.

Contents

History

Baptists have been in Virginia since the American Revolution, but had not organized as cooperating churches, preferring the independence common among Baptists. Not until June 3, 1822, was a formal Association formed, and then only “To propagate the Gospel and advance the Redeemer's Kingdom throughout the State.” It also emphasized that the work would be done while “not infringing the rights of individuals or churches.” [1]

The BGAV emphasized missions from the beginning. At the first general meeting on June 7, 1823, the Association agreed to fund two church planting missionaries at $30 a month for two years. Until 2014, the BGAV met once annually, and relied on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB) to administer the missions and provide continuing support to participating churches. [2]

In September 1996, seven hundred churches left the BGAV to form the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. [3] 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 SBCV, [4] though the BGAV and SBCV often disagree on priorities. [5]

The BGAV joined the Baptist World Alliance in 2004 after the Southern Baptist Convention pulled out of the alliance. [6] At the time, BGAV Executive Director John V. Upton, Jr., 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." [6] The BGAV contributes more to the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) than does any convention or union in the world. [7]

In 2006, the BGAV received some Georgia Baptist churches that had requested affiliation. [8] 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. [9]

In 2014, at the annual meeting of the BGAV approved some reorganization changes to their bylaws. One of which was a change in governance for the organization. Previously, policy making and the day-to-day operation of the organization relied on a 97-member Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB). This bylaw moved the governing authority from the VBMB to a new 21-member executive board, and a new Mission Council of up to 120 members acting in a consulting capacity. [10]

In 2017, Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Inc (VBMB) legally merged into the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV). [11]

According to a denomination census released in 2023, it claimed 610,000 members and 1,348 churches. [12]

Beliefs

The BGAV has been characterized as a moderate association. [13] [14]

The Association is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance. [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

Baptists are a branch of Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul competency, sola fide, sola scriptura and congregationalist church government. Baptists generally recognize two ordinances: baptism and communion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Baptist Convention</span> Christian denomination

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), alternatively the Great Commission Baptists (GCB), is an association of Baptist Christian churches based in the United States. It is the world's largest Baptist organization, the largest Protestant, and the second-largest Christian body in the United States. The SBC is a cooperation of fully autonomous, independent churches with commonly held essential beliefs that pool some resources for missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baptist World Alliance</span> International Christian denomination

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is an international Baptist association of Christian churches with an estimated 51 million people in 2024 with 266 member bodies in 134 countries and territories. A voluntary association of Baptist churches, the BWA accounts for about half the Baptists in the world.

The Alliance of Baptists is an association of Baptist Christian churches in the United States and Canada. The headquarters is in Raleigh, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baptist General Convention of Texas</span> Baptist body in Texas

The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), more commonly known as the Texas Baptists, is a Baptist Christian denomination in the U.S. state of Texas. It is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance. Texas Baptist offices are located in the city of Dallas, though convention staff are located across the state. According to a denomination census released in 2023, it claimed 2,038,537 members and 5,375 churches

The International Baptist Convention is an international association of Baptist Christian English-speaking churches. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Frankfurt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerian Baptist Convention</span> Baptist Christian denomination

Nigerian Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches, affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, in Nigeria. The office headquarters is in Ibadan, Nigeria. Rev. Dr. Israel Adélaní Àkànjí MFA is the president.

The Japan Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Japan. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Saitama.

Beginning in 1979, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) experienced an intense struggle for control of the organization. Its initiators called it the conservative resurgence while its detractors labeled it the fundamentalist takeover. It was launched with the charge that the seminaries and denominational agencies were dominated by liberals. The movement was primarily aimed at reorienting the denomination away from a liberal trajectory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese Baptist Convention</span> Baptist Christian denomination in Taiwan

The Chinese Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Taiwan and the territories administered by the Republic of China. It is affiliated with the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Taipei.

Russell Hooper Dilday was an American pastor, educator, seminary president, and chancellor of the B.H. Carroll Theological Institute. He was best known for his tenure as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary until his abrupt dismissal in 1994 during the Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence.

The District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC) is a coalition of Baptist churches in or near the Washington, DC area. The DCBC is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention. It also holds a separate membership in the Baptist World Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska Baptist Convention</span> Autonomous association of U.S. Baptist churches

The Alaska Baptist Convention (ABC) is an autonomous association of Baptist churches located in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is one of the state conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. The first Southern Baptist church in Alaska was established in 1943, with just 17 members, and the ABC was formed in 1946. Today, Alaskan Southern Baptists are the largest Protestant denomination in Alaska with over 20,000 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Page (Southern Baptist)</span> American pastor (born 1952)

Frank S. Page was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) from 2006 to 2008, and the president of the denomination's Executive Committee from 2010 to 2018. Page announced his resignation on March 27, 2018, admitting to "a personal failing" that involved a "morally inappropriate relationship." Frank Page pastored Pebble Creek Baptist Church in South Carolina from June 2019 to February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.</span> American Christian denomination

The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., more commonly known as the National Baptist Convention, is an association of Baptist Christian churches headquartered at the Baptist World Center in Nashville, Tennessee and affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. It is also the largest predominantly and traditionally African American church in the United States and the second largest Baptist denomination in the world.

The Canadian National Baptist Convention is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Canada. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The headquarters is in Cochrane, Alberta.

The Baptist Convention of Malawi is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Malawi. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Lilongwe.

The Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Zimbabwe. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe. The headquarters is in Gweru.

The Convention of Baptist Churches in Guatemala is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Guatemala. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Guatemala City.

The Baptist Convention of Panama is an association of Baptist Christian churches in Panama. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Burunga.

References

  1. ↑ "BGAV History | Virginia Baptist Mission Board - VBMB | Baptist General Association of Virginia - BGAV | 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23219". VBMB. 2013-08-08. Archived from the original on 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  2. ↑ "What is the VBMB? Is It the Same as the BGAV? | Virginia Baptist Mission Board - VBMB | Baptist General Association of Virginia - BGAV | 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23219". VBMB. 2013-08-08. Archived from the original on 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  3. ↑ T C> Pinckney. "SBCV Facts". Baptistbanner.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  4. ↑ "Help & FAQs". Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  5. ↑ Ledbetter, Tammi Reed (December 7, 2006). "States pass CP initiatives; decide critical issues". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  6. 1 2 Ryan, Wendy (November 24, 2004). "Virginia Baptists Vote BWA Memebership[sic]". Baptist World Alliance. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
  7. ↑ Dilday, Robert (November 19, 2004). "BGAV to seek membership in Baptist World Alliance". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  8. ↑ Hall, Will (January 4, 2007). "Analysis: 2006 news in review". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  9. ↑ Dilday, Robert (February 24, 2005). "Georgia churches look to Virginia for affiliation by 'affinity'". Associated Baptist Press. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  10. ↑ "Governance shift approved by BGAV". Baptist Press. 2014-12-02. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  11. ↑ "Articles of Merger". Virginia State Corporation Commission. 2017-03-16. Archived from the original on 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  12. ↑ Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
  13. ↑ "SBC conflict splits Virginia Baptists - moderates and conservatives of the Southern Baptist Convention". Christian Century. November 20, 1996. Archived from the original on March 31, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  14. ↑ Allen, Bob (December 19, 2012). "Church declines to leave BGAV". Associated Baptist Press. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  15. ↑ Southern Baptist Convention, State and Local Associations, sbc.net, USA, retrieved June 8, 2021
  16. ↑ Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved December 5, 2020
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.