The impact of a proposed constitutional amendment to be considered at the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s annual meeting next week was misstated in an analysis piece we developed and distributed Nov. 2.
At present, a contribution of at least $500, or at least 2 percent of a church’s total annual receipts if that amount is less than $500, in the preceding fiscal year to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions budget is necessary for a congregation to qualify for two messengers at annual BGAV meetings. Additional messengers, up to the maximum 15, are available if the church contributes at levels stated in the constitution. That minimum financial requirement for messengers was adopted by the BGAV in 2008 and no change in that policy is being considered.
Currently, it is possible for a church to make a token financial contribution and become a “participating” church. If that amount is less than $500 or less than 2 percent of its total annual receipts, the church does not qualify for messengers at the annual meeting, but it is included in the BGAV’s blanket tax exemption under the Internal Revenue Service code, and is eligible to participate in the state association’s annuity benefits for church staff and to receive publications and services from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
That will change if the proposed constitutional amendment is adopted by the BGAV at its Nov. 13-14 meeting in Roanoke. The new policy will require a “participating” church to give at least $500 or at least 2 percent of its total annual receipts, if that amount is less than $500, to the Virginia portion of the budget.
That new policy also would apply to “affiliate” churches, those which have contributed financially in only one of the preceding three fiscal years.
It would not change the status of “watch care” churches, those unable to contribute financially, primarily because they are “new starts” or experiencing “hardship.”
A corrected version of the analysis story is available here.
We apologize for the error.
Robert Dilday (rdilday@religiousherald.org) is managing editor of the Religious Herald.