RICHMOND — Diversity is not a recent phenomenon, according to the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. Choosing “The Swirling Center: Prospect for Diversity in the Church” as the theme for its annual meeting, the gathering attracted nearly a hundred members and visitors to Richmond’s First Baptist Church.
Virginia Baptists who have found themselves for a time in the vortex of diversity’s swirl shared their stories with an audience who affirmed their courageous stands.
Henry Langford, who was one of a handful of Southern Baptist pastors who publicly endorsed the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, spoke about the ostracism his family and he experienced as a result. Dismissed from his church and blacklisted from finding a pulpit elsewhere in the state, Langford ultimate found secular employment. He and his wife remained faithful, however, to the Lord, to Virginia Baptist work and to their principles.
Barbara Filling, pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Charles City, spoke of growing up in a Virginia Baptist church and sensing God’s call on her life. She prepared herself academically to teach school, never imagining God would lead her into the pulpit ministry. As she responded to each step of the Spirit’s leading, however, she became certain that was exactly what he wanted. Her call has met with opposition. Some folks merely questioned it, while others scoffed at the idea that a woman could serve as a pastor. Still others supported her as she shared the story of her journey.
She expressed appreciation for John Houghton, then pastor of Kilmarnock Baptist Church, who led that church to ordain her.
Michael Cheuk, pastor of Farmville Baptist Church, who moved to the United States with his family from Hong Kong, spoke of being called to a church that had taken such a firm segregationist stance in the 1960s that Donald Baker, a Washington Post staff writer, called Farmville Baptist a “bastion of white supremacy” in a March 2001 article.
Cheuk, who read the article while in dialogue with the pastor search committee, wondered how this church would possibly consider calling a Chinese pastor. His testimony is that churches, like people, can change. Farmville Baptist emerged from its earlier rejection of racial diversity.
Speakers at the evening session included Lloyd Allen, professor of church history at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, and Emmanuel McCall, formerly of the North American Mission Board and introduced as a Baptist world statesman.
The society recognized Cole Eskridge, II as the 2009-2010 Heritage Fellow. Cole is a member of First Baptist Church of Alexandria and a student of the University of Mary Washington.
Also recognized for her ministry to college students at Mary Washington University and in the northern region of the state was Rhonda Nash, who is employed by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
The highlight of the evening was a tribute to Phillip Rodgerson, who has consistently led Virginia Baptists to replace exclusive tendencies with inclusive ministries. Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, praised Rodgerson’s ministry. Steve Allsbrook and Craig Wilson, whom Rodgerson supervised at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, also expressed appreciation for him and his work.
Rodgerson’s grown children unveiled a framed recognition of him that will hang in the Virginia Baptist Historical Society’s office on the University of Richmond campus.
A resolution appearing below this article was drafted by attendees following the afternoon session and presented during the evening annual meeting.
Resolution on diversity
WHEREAS, the world’s diversity has become increasingly evident as people from differing nations have gathered within Virginia as our neighbors, and
WHEREAS, the methods of communication and means of transportation have brought us into more intimate contact with what is becoming a global neighborhood, and
WHEREAS, the church has too often been closed, and even hostile to people unlike ourselves, and
WHEREAS, Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love one another, and
WHEREAS, heaven will be made up of a vast multitude from every race and language that no one can number;
THEREFORE, as a body of Virginia Baptists committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ,
WE RESOLVE, to bear witness to him in a spirit of humility:
BY, fearlessly welcoming this diversity that is in our midst;
BY, devoting time to develop authentic caring friendships with diverse peoples, recognizing the image of God within each person;
BY, eagerly listening to their life story and beliefs and being willing to share, as the Holy Spirit leads, our life story and our belief in Christ;
THEREFORE, having known in times past the pain of persecution as a minority religious group, we further resolve to seek justice and religious liberty for all while seeking to build a community of mutual respect, dignity, and live in harmony with one another.
Presented to Virginia Baptists on May 19, 2009, by participants of the convocation “The Swirling Center: Prospect of Diversity in the Church.”