I write to commend the committee appointed by Baptist General Association of Virginia president, Carl Johnson, and chaired by Jim Baucom for the enlightened white paper they produced identifying deficiencies in the BGAV governing apparatus.
Specifically, the five areas addressed are spot on. In summary, they said: (1) the 100-member VBMB is too large; (2) the selection method for board members does not ensure diversity and competence; (3) strategic connections among groups assigned governance functions are weak; (4) the VBMB governing organizational structure does not lend itself to addressing strategies relative to the whole organization; (5) BGAV “stake-holding” churches (heavy hitters” — my term, not a popular designation I’m sure) are underrepresented in leadership.
To my way of thinking, the last deficiency may be the most pressing. These churches give considerable percentages of all BGAV funds and likely have some of the most competent leaders. Under the egalitarian premise that all district associations small and large shall be represented on the board, the financial support provided by these churches could be viewed somewhat like taxation without representation. The report noted that congregations that together represent more than 60 percent of BGAV income represent less than 10 percent of the Mission Board membership.
I hope that BGAV churches will heed the admonitions contained in the white paper and authorize BGAV leadership to implement actions proposed as a result of this important study.
Daniel A. Polk, Richmond