Trustees of Averett University have acknowledged Virginia Baptists' approval of a jointly-developed statement which would dissolve century-and-a-half-old ties between the school and the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
But Averett's trustees, who met April 15, have not revealed what action they took on the statement, which was written by Virginia Baptist leaders and Averett officials with the intention of presenting it to their respective governing boards.
Trustees went into executive session to consider the statement, said Averett president Richard Pfau. “It would be inappropriate for me to discuss it,” he said.
The joint statement was developed March 17 in an attempt to resolve longstanding disagreements between the BGAV and Averett over homosexuality — most recently students' observance of a gay pride week on campus. “Because of our current differences, we now resolve to walk separate paths … recognizing that these paths may join again at a future time,” said the statement, drafted by leaders of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and by Pfau and the chair of Averett's board of trustees.
The statement stipulates that the covenant between the BGAV and Averett will be dissolved and that the BGAV will end its long practice of nominating a portion of Averett's board of trustees.
The statement also gives sole ownership to the BGAV of a new theological training school in Roanoke, which previously was administered in cooperation with Averett and which was the only recipient of Virginia Baptist funding to Averett. And it commits both the BGAV and Averett to support of the Baptist Student Union on campus.
The Virginia Baptist Mission Board discussed the joint statement in open session April 6 and overwhelmingly approved it
However, Averett's trustees released a brief statement following their closed meeting April 15:
“We recognize and respect the decision of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Averett maintains its commitment to being an autonomous flagship Christian university. The board and the president will develop guidelines to insure that Averett continues to move in that direction. Our 146-year relationship with the Baptist General Association will continue to be enriched through the strong Baptist Student Union.”
The trustee statement implies that Averett agrees to end the 2004 covenant with the BGAV but hints at a desire to maintain some sort of relationship.
“We entered into this process with a mutual understanding and a jointly-crafted statement that both of our organizations could evaluate and come to resolution on,” said BGAV executive director John Upton. “We are limited in making a statement about the trustees' action as they called themselves into an executive session to consider the statement and therefore we are uncertain of their actions.
“Averett's future actions implementing Christian guidelines and standards, consistent with traditional Virginia Baptist values and norms, may allow the BGAV and Averett to rejoin paths at some point in time,” he said. “We welcome Averett's efforts to reclaim its heritage as a Virginia Baptist university.”
Upton added, “We are asking our Virginia Baptist family to pray for Averett's board leadership and its administration as a result of their decision to develop guidelines for the university's future direction.”
Upton said Averett officials have told him they have agreed to give the BGAV complete ownership of the theological training school in Roanoke — the Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network — which was created last year in an attempt to resolve an earlier disagreement over homosexuality. He said they also agree that the BGAV will no longer appoint Averett trustees.
Upton and other Virginia Baptist leaders say they regard the Mission Board's action on April 6 as decisive unless they receive a new proposal from Averett. The joint statement recognizes the possibility that the BGAV's and Averett's “paths may join again at a future time.”
Pfau told the Religious Herald he didn't think “the final word” has been written on the BGAV-Averett relationship, though he didn't indicate a proposal from the board was imminent.
He stressed that the school's Baptist ties will continue through its support of the Baptist Student Union on campus, for which it provides office space and some administrative assistance.
Pfau said he recognized that such ties were no different from the relationship the BGAV has to other schools — including many state-funded ones — which also have BSUs. But he maintained that the BSU plays a more significant role at Averett than on other campuses.
“The BSU has been a vital center for the Averett community,” he said. “It is one of the largest student organizations on campus and often is the organization of choice for student leaders. It is something that Averett alumni remember more readily than other organizations. … It is at the heart of who Averett is.”
Robert Dilday is interim editor of the Religious Herald.