The Baptist General Association of Virginia is a “movement of mission and ministry,” not an institution, Bert Browning said last week following his election as chair of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
“Jesus Christ did not found any institutions and certainly didn't found state conventions,” said Browning. “Jesus Christ called out his church. The BGAV's sole purpose for existence is to serve churches that serve our Lord. It is a movement of linked churches, who share a love for Christ and ministry together. We are not here to preserve an institution called the BGAV. We are here to service a faith journey of churches that sense a mutual call of God and join arms to accomplish God's kingdom work.”
Browning presented an address traditionally given by new board chairs at the first Mission Board meeting following the annual BGAV meeting. In it he offered several challenges to the five Mission Board teams.
“To glocal missions and evangelism: Don't let us forget the people of the Gulf Coast or the victims of the South Asia tsunami and earthquake.” Much of the world already has forgotten them, he said.
“To empowering leaders: Help us revitalize our churches.
“To emerging leaders: BSU shaped my call and I will not be happy personally until we have a college ministry on every campus in this Commonwealth. … It doesn't have to be a building but it must be a presence.
“To courageous churches: Keep us 21C'd as long as you can,” referring to the team's annual evangelism conference. “That conference has kept us edgy and we need to be edgy.
“To support services: Give us an Eagle Eyrie and a Camp Piankatank we can be proud of.”
Browning also offered “three thoughts” to board members.
“Let's be honest with each other,” he said. “We have nothing to apologize for who we are or what we believe.”
“Let's work together,” he continued. “Do we all believe the same? No. Are we all in the same [budget giving] track? No. We can spend our energies lobbying for uniformity or we can put that aside for great things.”
“Let's be generous,” he concluded. “Our giving overall has been healthy and focused, but budget receipts are headed in the wrong direction, given our wealth and given our needs, and that is not healthy.”
Staff report