Historic First Baptist Church of Richmond, Va., faces crucial vote on severing ties with SBC over Law Amendment
In a historic decision, the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Va., is set to vote on May 19 regarding its affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The proposal aims to sever ties with the SBC due to the denomination’s stance on women serving as pastors, Baptist News Global reported.
The announcement by the church reads, “The Board of Deacons recommends that Richmond’s First Baptist Church withdraw as a cooperating church in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in response to the SBC’s proposed constitutional amendment requiring pastors and elders of its cooperating churches to be men. The Board of Deacons invites the congregation to a church-wide conversation and vote on this decision.”
The proposed Law Amendment is expected to be discussed at the June 11-12 annual meeting of the SBC in Indianapolis, Ind.
For more than a century, First Baptist has maintained close historical connections with the SBC and its foreign mission entity now known as the International Mission Board (IMB). In the early years following its establishment in 1845, the board had offices within the church premises.
However, times have changed. The IMB headquarters is now just a mile away on Monument Boulevard. As Confederate monuments along the boulevard have been removed, so too has the relationship between First Baptist and the IMB shifted. Conservative leadership within the SBC during the latter part of the 20th century led to a gradual deconstruction of their affiliation.
Presently, First Baptist maintains dual affiliations with the SBC and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship—a breakaway group formed in 1991.