By Robert Dilday
The Baptist General Association of Virginia has moved a step closer to full membership in the Baptist World Alliance.
Last week, the BGAV joined the North American Baptist Fellowship, one of the BWA's regional fellowships. Representatives of the NABF approved the BGAV's membership Jan. 12 at their annual meeting in Florida. At the same time, they endorsed the BGAV's full membership in the Baptist World Alliance and forwarded a recommendation to the BWA's executive committee.
The BGAV is the first state Baptist convention to be elected a member of one of the BWA's regional fellowships, which in the past have included only national Baptist conventions and unions.
“As members of the NABF, Virginia Baptists connect to a wide network of resources and possibilities,” said John Upton, executive director of the BGAV.
The NABF is one of six regional fellowships and includes national Baptist conventions and unions in the United States and Canada. Other fellowships include conventions in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The NABF's executive director is Alan Stanford, who also is pastor of First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington.
Affiliation with a regional fellowship is not required for membership in the BWA, but typically the BWA's conventions and unions are associated with one of the six.
Last November, messengers at the BGAV annual meeting authorized a committee to seek membership in the BWA. Upton, who attended the NABF meeting in Florida, said membership in the regional fellowship is part of that process.
“One of the joys of BWA membership is participation in the North American Baptist Fellowship,” said Upton.
Among the benefits of NABF membership is participation in “coordinated relief work, as in the current tsunami relief efforts of Southeast Asia,” he said. “The NABF also shares ideas and known resources for assisting local churches in reaching the lost in North America and discipling their own church members. One of the strategic commitments that came out of the January meeting was an intentional prayer commitment that would lift up the member bodies.
“The relationship with NABF is a fellowship of sharing,” he said. “It keeps all members informed of one another's activities and ministries. It is not a denomination nor a convention but a fellowship of dialogue. All current denominational ties for Virginia Baptists are unaffected by this connection. The work of Virginia Baptists will be strengthened and enhanced by continuing the walk with old friends.”
The BWA executive committee will consider the BGAV's membership application later this spring. Full membership-which the BGAV is seeking-includes representation on the BWA general council, its governing body. Associate membership-a new category created last year to allow broader participation-provides only indirect representation on the council.
Staff report
Robert Dilday is interim editor of the Religious Herald.