By Derik Hamby
I personally do not know Brad Hoffman or Nancy Stanton McDaniel. Both are now candidates for the Baptist General Association of Virginia presidency.
That last sentence was hard to type. “Candidates” is a strange word for those of us in the BGAV. I personally consider Nancy a “nomination” and Brad the “candidate” simply by the method each have taken. Back in the old days the BGAV — like most state conventions and the national Southern Baptist Convention — had candidates run against one another as the battles raged. The conservatives left and formed the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and for the last 20 years the BGAV has had nominees run alone with first vice presidents becoming presidents.
The president of the BGAV does not have the power that the SBC president had which allowed a takeover. But it is still a visible and important position in Baptist life. Nancy becoming president would be historical because she would be the first ordained female pastor in that role (she would not be the first female).
Out of the blue Brad entered into this race. He is being nominated as well. On his own blog he is taking a more campaign approach.
In one Blog (“The Baptist General Association of Virginia Needs to Break Tradition this November”) Hoffman wrote, “Here’s my concern. Nancy McDaniel (First Vice President) is the Pastor of Rhoadsville Baptist Church, Rhoadsville, Virginia. According to the 2014 BGAV Annual Report, Rhoadsville baptized only one person and gave a total of $1,872.00 through Virginia Baptist Missions under Nancy’s leadership. According to the scorecard, this doesn’t qualify Nancy or Rhoadsville as stakeholders. Personally, I expect more from a nominee for BGAV president.”
This pastor challenges the first nomination’s baptism record and financial giving. He then declares she isn’t qualified to be a stakeholder in the BGAV.
Recently during a national political debate one candidate was attacked personally by another and that candidate said something to the effect that his critic was only doing it because he had been told that was the way to win.
The number of baptisms does not equal success. Nor does the amount a church can afford to give. Smaller congregations often are the backbone of this state convention. Faithfulness and dedication does not mean we will all be pastors of megachurches. Brad’s church is a large church that is growing numerically but that does not mean he is more successful than a pastor of a smaller church.
I am the first to admit that the BGAV has significant challenges. We all see the budget changes each year. There are tough decisions that we may have to make in the near future. The BGAV like all religious bodies is facing a fast changing world and the way we have done things will have to be addressed.
I also believe casting such challenges on members of the BGAV family is not helpful. Those who give their time, energy and passion to the BGAV are part of this family. The BGAV is a complex family.
We are only one of two state conventions that have welcomed multiple theological tribes. The SBC, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and those who claim neither exist within this body and that has not been easy or smooth, but it has been important and says a great deal about the BGAV.
This is not the time to begin battles or division. It is not the time to make sweeping statements. We who belong to the BGAV are all stakeholders.
I am aware there may be other divisive issues coming to the floor in a few weeks. I personally wish the BGAV would decide to no longer make resolutions. There are bodies that do not do this practice. Resolutions, while being non-binding, only lead to controversy and separation.
As a stakeholder of the BGAV my prayer is that when we come to Richmond we will draw together as a family, refuse to get side tracked by controversy and work to face the challenges that are ahead.