Occasionally we hear the cry of a prophetic voice. I heard such a cry when I read the article written by Michael Gillen, “What kind of moderates are Virginia Baptists?” [Herald, March 8]. That prophetic voice challenges Virginia Baptists to be the people of God as described in the New Testament, a people of great diversity that fully embrace the call to ministry and missions. The first century church was challenged with sharing the gospel with the ethnos or the Gentiles, and so are Virginia Baptists challenged in the 21st century.
The greatest challenge of hearing a prophetic voice is to respond positively to the call of God. A positive response is much more than saying, “Amen.” A positive response involves not only making room at the denominational table for ethnic clergy and laity, but also making room at the church table for ethnic clergy and laity.
As moderate Virginia Baptists we uphold the autonomy of the local church, and no where will the prophetic voice be heard louder or clearer than from our pulpits and from our communion tables. I think that the prophetic challenge of Gillen's article speaks not only to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and its partner agencies, but also to the local church. The VBMB and its partners will most certainly do their part in responding to God's call, but the local church must take the lead.
Prophetically speaking, the membership and leadership of Virginia Baptist churches need to reflect the ethnic population of Virginia. One of these days we will, hopefully, all wake up in heaven and become not only surprised by the loving presence of our Savior, but also surprised by all of those people from other nations, languages, tribes, and ethnic groups standing around his table. But the end result of our salvation must have something to do with the response of our faith and action, now!
Ricky R. Hurst, Director of Donor Relations, Virginia Baptist Foundation