In past months, I have made it a point to read old issues of the Religious Herald dating from the Civil War era and before. Almost without exception, this has been an enlightening experience that has heightened the respect I have for my editorial forebears. At times, however, I have been surprised and even stupefied by reports and editorial positions taken. This has caused me to wonder, on occasion, how stupefied they might have been if they could have read what is in the Herald today.
I wonder. Would they be surprised to read that Virginia Baptists meeting in Richmond in 2011 elected an African-American pastor to serve as president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia? Or would they wonder what had taken us so long?
Jim White
|
What might have surprised them is that Mark Croston’s was the only name placed in nomination and that no dissenting votes were cast. If, in their day, they could have read the account of his election in our own, they probably would have assumed, and perhaps have taken satisfaction in believing, that the BGAV had become racially balanced. It would only be natural for them to believe that a black president was elected because of the great numbers of black messengers from BGAV churches. Those who attended, though, know the sea of white faces was only occasionally interspersed with others of a darker hue.
Clearly Mark’s election was about much more than representing constituent groups — as important as that might be. Mark is highly qualified to hold the office, having served as both second vice president and first vice president in years past. His record of church growth in Suffolk is impressive and commends him to the position. His preaching skills are evident to anyone who has ever heard him. He has served a variety of agencies and institutions on their boards. Denominationally, he has been a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention’s African-American Fellowship serving as president from 2005 to 2008. In addition, he has served a term as president of the Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference. Currently, he serves as first vice president of the Virginia Baptist State Convention, one of two historically African-American Baptist conventions in the state, and the potential exists that he could serve simultaneously as president of the BGAV and the VBSC.
There can be no question as to his qualifications to serve. By every indication his experience and spiritual gifts have prepared him for the task. And as John Robertson reminded us in his nomination speech, Croston can sing!
But as compelling as his qualifications are, there’s more to the story. For the first time in our 188-year history we have elected an African-American to lead us. As blind as we might wish to be with respect to race, I am quite confident that color has not escaped anyone’s notice. In a city once known as the capital of the Confederacy; in a city where, legally, black congregations had to have a white pastor; in this self-same city a mostly white Virginia Baptist body elected, without a dissenting vote, a black president. It is a powerful symbol.
But, a symbol of what, exactly? This is what I’ve been asking myself. What I don’t know is whether Mark’s election is in response to looking back or is in the hope of looking ahead — or both. In this sesquicentennial anniversary year of the start of the Civil War, it is only natural to look back. Much happened in Virginia Baptist life that should not have.
A race of men and women were held as slaves against their wills by some Virginia Baptists. They were regarded by some Virginia Baptist leaders as property to be bought and sold. The Religious Herald published a series of articles by a Virginia Baptist pastor postulating the biblical correctness of slave holding.
As painful as this hindsight is, it is necessary that we acknowledge and admit what is there. I believe Mark’s election, taken as symbol, speaks, in part, to Virginia Baptists’ past collective shame over missing the mark so grievously. Through the years of the Civil War and afterward when we tolerated the denial of civil rights, we acted contrary to the teachings of Jesus. This is not true of all Virginia Baptists, of course. Perhaps not even most. But collectively we were guilty.
Mark’s election is much more, however, than a way of saying, “We are sorry and wish to atone for our past sins.” It is an apology with action applied. We elected him to be our leader. In truth, we had no control over what our ancestors did. But we do control our own actions. And we have.
The question now is, how will we let him lead? This is the “future” part of the question. During the BGAV meetings, Alan Hirsch warned us repeatedly about the danger of creating Jesus in our own image. He told us we needed to set aside the traditional lenses through which we have viewed the Savior because those lenses make him look very much like us.
Of course, some may have voted for an African-American president because it provides evidence that we are progressive, socially-correct and open-minded people who deserve to be highly regarded for our affirmation of diversity. But it is one thing to affirm diversity and quite another to actually become diverse. But the affirmation as a symbol is not to be diminished. Actions follow affirmations. Even if the motives of some few were to feel good about ourselves, a direction has been set and a die has been smashed.
I believe Mark’s election is a symbol of a new era dawning in Virginia Baptist life; and not only with respect to race. We have already witnessed the early signs of this new day with emphases like Fresh Expressions. Undoubtedly, by virtue of who he is and what he has accomplished and with whom he has worked, Mark will continue this trend by bringing fresh perspectives into the old BGAV. He will help us to see with fresh eyes who Jesus really is.
Jim White ([email protected]) is editor of the Religious Herald.