Recommendation IV
Constitution and Bylaw Changes
Items in bold are additions; items in italic are to be deleted
BGAV CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE III: Meetings and Composition
Section B: Composition
The General Association shall be composed of the officers of the General Association and messengers elected by Baptist churches which follow the New Testament teaching of salvation by grace and believer's baptism by immersion, and which cooperate with the General Association. Each church contributing financially at least $500 during the previous fiscal year, according to the treasurer's report, to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions Budget shall be entitled to two (2) messengers; to a total of three (3) messengers for $300 $750; a total of four (4) messengers for $900 $1,000, and to one (1) more messenger for each additional $600; provided that no church shall be entitled to more than fifteen (15) messengers. If $500 is more than two percent (2%) of a church's total annual receipts, such church is entitled to two (2) messengers, provided it contributes financially at least two percent (2%) of its total annual receipts to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions Budget. Cooperative Missions is Virginia Baptists' long-standing commitment to the Cooperative Program.
ARTICLE V: Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB)
Section C: Members from Associations
There shall be one (1) member from the area of each cooperating district association that contributes at least $35,000 to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions Budget annually. However, no association formed after September 1, 1969, shall have members elected to the VBMB from its area unless and until it has at least 5,000 members. When such contributions from the churches of an association reach the following amounts annually, one (1) additional member shall be elected for each level reached: $110,000; $260,000; $580,000; $1,130,000; $1,450,000; $1,830,000, and $2,200,000 (maximum of eight (8) associational members). If $35,000 is more than two percent (2 %) of the total annual receipts of the churches of an association, there shall be one (1) member from the area of such association, provided such contributions are at least two percent (2%) of the total annual receipts of the churches of the association.
ARTICLE VII: Parliamentary Authority
To protect the rights of all the members and to assure ensure that the will of the General Association prevails, the rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the General Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and Bylaws and any special rules of order the General Association may adopt.
BGAV BYLAWS
ARTICLE II: Responsibilities
Section A: Officers of the General Association.
1. The responsibilities of the officers of the General Association shall be those usual to the respective offices, plus those specifically outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws. The president and executive director shall be non-voting ex officio members of all committees of the General Association.
2. The treasurer shall receive all funds contributed to the General Association, pay over such amounts as are specified by the contributors for particular uses according to their directions, (provided that, in the opinion of the treasurer, said uses comply with accepted General Association causes), distribute any amount not specified according to the instructions of the General Association, and make an annual report of all receipts and disbursements. All checks for paying of funds of the General Association shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by such other persons as may be designated by the VBMB. The treasurer shall ensure that the duties of stewardship education and financial resources development are performed. The treasurer shall serve under the direction of the executive director and shall perform such other fiscal and management duties as may be assigned by the executive director.
Article II: Responsibilities
Section C: Committees
3. Committee on Boards and Committees.
(a) This committee shall nominate qualified persons to the VBMB and standing committees as outlined in these Bylaws. Prior to presenting its report, this committee shall share with each nominee the duties and responsibilities associated with the service for which he/she is nominated, and obtain the nominee's acceptance of said duties and responsibilities.
(b) This committee shall nominate persons to the boards of trustees of the following agencies, institutions, and shared ministries in accordance with their respective charters: Virginia Intermont College, Bluefield College, Fork Union Military Academy, Hargrave Military Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Religious Herald, Virginia Baptist Children's Home and Family Services (HopeTree Family Services), Virginia Baptist Homes, Virginia Baptist Foundation, Baptist Minister's Relief Fund of Virginia, Baptist Extension Board, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, The John Leland Center for Theological Studies, Associated Baptist Press, Baptist Joint Committee, Baptist Center for Ethics, Baptist World Alliance, Chaplain Service of the Churches of Virginia, Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies, and such other agencies, institutions and shared ministries as may be established. Every General Association-nominated member of boards of trustees shall be a resident member of a Baptist church cooperating with the General Association.
(c) This committee shall nominate two (2) persons for approval and suggestion to the SBC president for consideration as General Association members of the SBC Committee on Committees.
(d) This committee is encouraged to solicit, by use of the Religious Herald and by other means, suggestions as to qualified persons to serve on the boards and committees of the General Association. The committee is directed to see that proper distribution of membership on boards and committees reflects a wide representation of Virginia Baptists. The committee shall not nominate any person to serve as a trustee of any board of any agency, institution or shared ministry of the General Association who is currently serving as a General Association-nominated member on another board of any agency, institution or shared ministry of the General Association, nor shall an employee of the VBMB be nominated to serve as a trustee of such boards. However, this restriction shall not apply to any agency, institution or shared ministry which, by its bylaws or board policy, requires a specific employee of the VBMB to be a member of its board. All trustees who are nominated by the Committee on Boards and Committees are eligible for consideration to succeed themselves for a second term. After two (2) terms on the board of any agency, institution or shared ministry board, a trustee is not eligible for nomination to that board for at least one (1) year.
(e) Every nominee shall be a resident member of a church which qualifies as a participating church under the General Association Constitution. Prior to presenting its report of nominations to the General Association, this committee shall determine the eligibility, availability and willingness of each proposed nominee to serve, if elected; and this committee shall include in its report to the General Association the place of residence and the church membership of each nominee.
Article IV: General Provisions
Section J: Parliamentary Authority.
To protect the rights of all the members and to assure ensure that the will of the General Association prevails, the rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the General Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, Constitution and any special rules of order the General Association may adopt.
VBMB BYLAWS
ARTICLE IV: Membership
SECTION 1. Members.
(B) Members from Associations: There shall be one (1) member from the area of each cooperating district association that contributes at least $35,000 to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions Budget annually. However, no association formed after September 1, 1969, shall have members elected to the VBMB from its area unless and until it has at least 5,000 members. When such contributions from the churches of an association reach the following amounts annually, one (1) additional member shall be elected for each level reached: $110,000; $260,000; $580,000; $1,130,000; $1,450,000; $1,830,000, and $2,200,000 (maximum of eight (8) associational members). If $35,000 is more than two percent (2 %) of the total annual receipts of the churches of an association, there shall be one (1) member from the area of such association, provided such contributions are at least two percent (2%) of the total annual receipts of the churches of the association.
Contributions to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions Budget shall be based on the records of the treasurer of the General Association. Additional members, based on increased contributions, shall be elected at the next annual meeting of the General Association. If an association may propose only one (1) member, it is suggested that successive terms be alternated between ministers and laypersons. If an association may propose two (2) members, one (1) shall be a minister and one (1) a layperson. If an association may propose three (3) members at least one (1) shall be a minister and one (1) a layperson, and so on, and so forth. The term “minister” shall be interpreted to mean a person who is an ordained minister or who is recognized by his/her church as being in church-related service and in no way is intended to imply that lay persons are not engaged in ministry.
Article VII: Committees
SECTION 3. Major Committees.
(C) Specific Responsibilities:
(1) Committee on Empowering Leaders: This committee shall be responsible to the VBMB for matters relating to equipping congregational leaders, including but not limited to: assistance in linking ministers and churches, deacon ministry, continuing education for ministers and lay leaders, family ministries, and wellness in congregations and ministers. It shall be liaison to the following ministry partners: Baptist Center for Ethics, Baptist Ministers Relief Fund, Ministering to Ministers Foundation, Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies, and Virginia Baptist Historical Society.
ARTICLE IX: Parliamentary Authority
To protect the rights of all the members and to assure ensure that the will of the VBMB prevails, the rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the VBMB in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation and any special rules of order the VBMB may adopt.