I believe we can do better as an association of Baptists in Virginia.
I’m concerned about the evidenced lack of leadership displayed by several Virginia Baptist Mission Board members as they debated the recent Ginter Park Baptist Church matter during the fall meeting. I fully support the executive committee’s decision! My concern is over the fear-based arguments and the misapplication/misinterpretation of Baptist distinctives expressed during the board’s deliberations on the executive committee’s response.
Brad Hoffmann
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As a Virginia pastor, I believe we need change in the way we vet Virginia Baptist Mission Board members. We need high capacity men and women who can competently navigate and get the job done. Our current board and structure does not allow for this possibility. I fully support an intentional and strategic effort to make meaningful governance change. We can do better!
In keeping with this same principle, we need to elect, affirm and appoint the best possible leadership. Are we tied to tradition or are we willing to seek the best possible person for the job? Are we going to alternate between laity and clergy in a misguided effort of equality? Will we automatically assume promotion from one office to the next? Will we as an association of 1,400 churches elect a slate of unopposed candidates for president, first vice president and second vice president? Are we going to choose leaders with a fresh vision for what can be or choose a manager for what we’ve become? We can do better!
It is as if we’re operating with a leadership void in our state. Where are our leaders in Virginia? Where are the men and women who will competently lead us in to the next decade? We can do better!
Brad Hoffmann ([email protected]) is pastor of Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, Va.