Ascending Together: BGAV Annual Meeting Summary

Ascending Together

The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) held its 198th Annual Meeting in a virtual-only format on November 9-10, 2021, with live-streamed worship, breakout sessions, and a business session focused on the theme “Mountain of Healing” and scripture from Isaiah 2:1-5.An estimated 550 messengers and guests participated in one or more of the online sessions.

Featured music included an original theme song, “Walking in the Light,” by Kate Campbell. Adam Tyler presided over the main gatherings and the business session. Howard-John Wesley, Pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA, delivered a powerful sermon on Tuesday evening titled, “Stop Staring.”

Messengers voted online to pass the 2022 budget, with Cooperative Missions allocations of $8,645,000. In 2021, the allocations totaled $9,100,000.

Ron Gravatt, a member of Buena Vista Baptist Church in Buena Vista, VA, and current 1st Vice President, was nominated and elected to serve next year as President. Herbert Ponder, pastor of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, was elected 1st Vice President. Additionally, messengers elected Ellen Gwathmey, member of Bruington Baptist Church, as 2nd Vice President, and Nathan Taylor, member of River Road Church, Baptist, was elected to serve as clerk. The body also duly elected new Mission Council members.

Becky McKinney was approved as chair of the Executive Board. Mike Bradley, Shirley Cobb, Lora Gravatt, Tamara McBride, and Brian Taliaferro were all nominated and elected to serve on the Executive Board. Because of the abbreviated online format, only essential business was conducted via secure online voting by registered messengers.

In his annual report, BGAV Executive Director John Upton highlighted several innovations and ministries that have developed over the past year. At the end of the Tuesday, November 9, worship gathering, Upton announced his plan to retire effective July 31, 2022—concluding his tenure of 20 transformative years as executive director.

The 199th Annual Meeting of the BGAV will be held November 15-16, 2022 in Hampton, VA.

View Recordings of Tuesday’s Service and Breakout Sessions at Meeting.BGAV.org