Rome church to vote on affiliation with Virginia Convention March 13

On March 13 First Baptist Church of Rome will vote to become a part of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. In a letter written to church members Feb. 11 pastor Joel Snider outlined the plan to transfer the affiliation of the church from the Georgia Baptist Convention to the convention in Virginia.

Snider wrote, "Once the congregation has had a chance to discuss and vote on this recommendation, we will bring another recommendation about our relationship to the Floyd County Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention."

John Upton, executive director of the BGAV, wrote Snider saying, "Our commitment to you is that we will work in every way to help you feel a key part of the Baptist General Association in every way."

In the letter sent to the FBC membership by Snider was a "frequently answered questions" section stating that there are 220 BGAV churches that have chosen the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as their global partner in missions." Interestingly, the church leadership asserts that its initial annual commitment to the BGAV will be what it was (last year) to the GBC - $5,000. Snider wrote, "Our budgeted contributions to CBF will exceed $65,000."

In the FAQ section it stated, "The GBC has adopted the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message statement for its doctrinal statement. The BGAV continues to utilize the 1963 BFM as its statement of faith."

Last September the Floyd County Association also adopted the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message at their annual session. The section of the BFM on "The Church" states: "... while both men and women are gifted and called for ministry the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture."

The vote became a focal point of interest because one of the association's churches had just called a woman as senior pastor. Katrina Brooks along with her husband, Tony, serve as co-pastors of North Broad Baptist Church in Rome. The North Broad church has already withdrawn from the Floyd County Association and is also reported to be looking at an affiliation with the Virginia Convention.

The Brookses came to Georgia from Virginia, where they served as co-pastors of Bethel Baptist Church in Scottsburg. Another pastor who came to Georgia from Virginia, Bill Wilson of First Baptist Church in Dalton, is apparently looking with favor upon connecting the Dalton church with the Virginia Convention. He was president of the BGAV in 1998.

J. Robert White, Executive Director of the GBC commented on the Rome churches, saying, "I'm aware that these two churches have not agreed with some of the decisions and directions of the Georgia Baptist Convention. We wish them the very best in their new [likely] affiliation with the BGAV."