The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia adopted the United Nations Millennium Development Goals during its annual general assembly, March 9-10 in Richmond.
The vote came at the urging of Colleen Burroughs, co-founder and executive vice president of Passport Inc., a CBF global missions partner. In her sermon, “The New Moon Shot Generation,” in the closing worship session of the general assembly, Burroughs challenged the CBFV to adopt the goals. She stressed that such affirmation of the goals would serve as a sign of the CBFV's commitment to serving the needs of God's children around the world.
“Find your voice CBF of Virginia,” said Burroughs. “Speak up and say what matters and expect the miracle of Christ to multiply your efforts. Consider adopting the Millennium Development Goals. Hopefully it will make other people sit up and notice. Maybe it will move them to change. This is more than our Bold Mission Thrust [a reference to a Southern Baptist Convention evangelistic effort launched in the 1970s]. This is our moon shot.”
The Millennium Development Goals are eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development. The target date for achieving these goals is the year 2015.
Following Burroughs' sermon, Tim Madison, outgoing CBFV moderator, called the body into a special business session. Through a motion made by Nancy Stanton McDaniel, pastor at Rhoadesville Baptist Church in Rhoadesville, the CBFV voted to adopt the goals and, as a result of a second motion, committed a substantial portion of its new “Emerging Missions” 2007-2008 budget line item to supporting them.
“I am still so excited about what happened at the CBFV with the adoption of the Millennium [Development] Goals,” said McDaniel. “As I listened to Colleen and heard her passion, I knew that we had to do something. I am so proud of CBFV for ‘stepping up to the plate'…and ‘putting feet to our faith' by choosing to give money to one or more of the initiatives.”
Madison added, “The adoption of the … goals is a step in the right direction to raise awareness and call all Christians to action as we combat the overwhelming tragedy related to world poverty and disease.”
When asked about her reaction to the CBFV's action, Burroughs expressed excitement. “I was speechless. I thought maybe at best, someone would form a committee and you would talk about it for six months. Never in my wildest [dreams] did I think we would stop in the middle of the worship service and get called back into business session. It was really fun to watch the CBF of Virginia in action!”
In other action at the general assembly, Walt Cummings assumed the position of moderator. New officers include Jack Mercer, moderator-elect; Bland Campbell, secretary; and Dennis Sacrey, treasurer.
The CBFV also adopted a 2007-2008 budget of $224,636.
About 250 attended the meeting, held at Second Baptist Church in Richmond.