BGAV & CBF: Partners in the Gospel

by   T. C. Pinckney                                                                                                                                  Vol. XII, No. 10, Nov/Dec 1999

Now before you accuse me of picking on the BGAV, let me point out that the headline above is taken verbatim from the October 1999 issue of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia newsletter, Fellowship News. In fact, it introduces the lead story which begins on the first page. The article is by Bruce W. Hunter, moderator-elect of the CBFV, and so should certainly speak authoritatively for the CBFV view. The first paragraph of the article in its entirety reads:

Two autonomous Baptist groups are partnering together in some clearly defined, specific ways for mission work. Like Baptist entities in the past, the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) have come together in a voluntary association to further the kingdom work of their common Lord.

Further in the article Hunter writes:

My training in Baptist history also enables the observation that Baptist groups with similar goals and values have always experienced a "coming together" in the name of Christian missions. ... This is a distinctly Baptist way. It is an accurate description of the underlying causes for the partnership between the BGAV and CBF.

The article also quotes John Upton, "leader of the Virginia Mission Board Missions Mobilization Group," as stating that "the Priorities and Values Statement of CBF Global Missions is one of the best I have ever read. ... it is truly inspired. Given the values and priorities in Virginia Baptist life regarding missions, we [the BGAV and CBF] {Note: The bracketed words are in the article.} make good partners."

One final quote by Hunter as he is winding up his article: "The partnership between Virginia Baptists, the BGAV, and CBF will continue to grow in the future as these two Christian groups further explore the pragmatic implications of the Baptist distinctives they share."

Note the import of these admissions.

1. BGAV is intentionally partnering with the CBF. BGAV is not merely permitting each church to contribute through BGAV channels to whatever organizations the church may prefer. As Hunter says, CBF and BGAV "have come together in voluntary association".

2. BGAV & CBF have "similar goals and values", and that is why they have come together.

3. John Upton, cited as "leader of the Virginia Mission Board Missions Mobilization Group", is quoted as saying "Given the values and priorities in Virginia Baptist life regarding missions, we [the BGAV and CBF] make good partners." Thus a responsible and influential BGAV leader confirms Hunter's evaluation.

4. Hunter confidently expects "The partnership between Virginia Baptists, the BGAV, and CBF will continue to grow in the future ..."

If anyone thought the presence of CBF in BGAV life was merely accidental or incidental, this article should forever end his naivete'. The BGAV is leaving the Southern Baptist Convention and moving toward the CBF just as fast as it dares.