Virginia Baptists Committed
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endorsements for 2022-2023 BGAV officers

10/10/2022

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Virginia Baptists Committed, a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the BGAV for the November 2022 annual meeting.


PictureHerbert Ponder
VBC is pleased to endorse Rev. Dr. Herbert Ponder for the office of BGAV President.
 
Herbert is a native of Pittsburgh, PA, and is married to Rev. Lorae D. Ponder, also of Pittsburgh. They have two adult children and one grandchild.
 
Herbert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh, the M.Div. and D.Min. Degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. As a lifelong learner, he is a 2016 and 2021 fellow of the Black Theology and Leadership Institute at the Princeton Theological Seminary and is currently taking courses for certification as a leadership coach.
 
He has served as the 8th Pastor of Mount Tabor Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia since 1994 where the Lord sent him to Equip the Saints for the Work of Ministry, and has been a part of Virginia Baptist life since joining Mount Tabor Baptist Church in 1989.
 
His participation in Virginia Baptist Life includes serving on the Virginia Baptist Executive Board, where he has served as both Secretary and Vice Chair. He was elected BGAV Clerk in 2018 and currently serves as First Vice President.

Herbert will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Robert Whitehead, Senior Pastor, New Zion Baptist Church, Williamsburg, VA.


PictureBecky McKinney
VBC endorses Becky McKinney for First Vice-President of the BGAV.

Becky has been a part of Virginia Baptist life for many years. She is a graduate of Radford University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She has worked as a child welfare worker for Henry County DSS and Director of Programs for Volunteer Emergency Families for Children (VEFC).

Becky has served as a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, and a mission emphasis coordinator at Chatham Heights Baptist Church, Martinsville, Virginia. She has served on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, chaired the BGAV Executive Board, and has been the Past Vice President and President of WMUV. She is married and has 2 sons and 5 grandchildren. 
​
Becky will be nominated by Ann Brown, messenger, First Baptist Church, Gretna, VA. 


PictureMark Hughes
VBC also endorses Rev. Dr. Mark Hughes for Second Vice-President of the BGAV.

Mark is the pastor of West End Baptist Church, North Dinwiddie, VA.  A Virginia native, he is a life-long Virginia Baptist raised in the Town of Orange where Baptist history runs deep. He is dedicated to the idea that mission isn’t just something we do, but a part of who we are as creations of God and followers of Jesus Christ.

Mark is a graduate of James Madison University (B.S.) and The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (M.Div. and D.Min.). Mark has served as an associational representative to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, as a Virginia Baptist Disaster Response volunteer, and currently is a member of the Capital Region Mission Council.
​
Mark will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Joe Lewis, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA.


PictureNathan Taylor
Finally, VBC is pleased to endorse again Rev. Dr. Nathan Taylor to serve as Clerk of the BGAV.

Nathan serves as executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. An ordained Baptist minister and Certified Archivist, he holds a D.Min. from Mercer University, a M.Div. from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, a B.S. from Asbury University, and has completed additional graduate work in archival studies at Louisiana State University. Prior experiences include congregational ministry, institutional advancement and history education. He is a member of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond.

Nathan will be nominated by Dr. Fred Anderson, messenger, River Road Church, Richmond, VA.
​
These candidates are well qualified to serve and are committed to the work of the BGAV now and in the future.
 
VBC is happy to endorse these persons for these leadership positions.

VBC welcomes and encourages the nominations of other qualified candidates.

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VBC Fall Board Meeting - Sept. 29

8/17/2022

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​Thursday, September 29, 2022
11:00 a.m. to Noon
All members in good standing* are invited to attend.

 
Emmaus Baptist Church
6700 Emmaus Church Road
Providence Forge, Virginia  23140

 
Following the meeting, attendees are invited to gather for a "dutch treat" lunch at a nearby restaurant.

*As a membership-based organization, VBC depends on members who join us. An annual $25 fee is used to support our work to preserve, protect and promote the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia. Please join or renew your membership here.
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VBC spring Board meeting

2/22/2022

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The spring open board meeting will be on
Thursday, April 28, 11:00 a.m. 


All members in good standing are invited to attend this in-person meeting. Please click here to register for the meeting. Following registration, you will receive information regarding the location of the open board meeting.

Following the meeting, attendees are invited to gather for a "dutch treat" lunch at a nearby restaurant.

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Endorsements for 2021-2022 BGAV Officers

10/26/2021

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​Virginia Baptists Committed, a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the BGAV for the November 2021 annual meeting.

PictureRon Gravatt
​VBC is pleased to endorse Dr. Ron Gravatt, a layman from Buena Vista Baptist Church, to serve for the office of BGAV President.

A graduate of Harvard College (BA ’69) and the University of Virginia (MA ’72, PhD ’87), Ron was a public school teacher in Buena Vista for 33 years. Ron has served his church as youth pastor and as a teacher for the Men’s Bible Class and its radio ministry. With three stints as Moderator of the Natural Bridge Baptist Association (NBBA), a term as the Association’s representative for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, and having preached in more than half of the NBBA’s 20 churches, he has become acquainted with Baptist work at the local and state levels.
 
Ron is married to his wife, Martha, for over 40 years, and they have one daughter, Susan.
 
Ron will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Thomas Harvey, Interim Pastor, Buena Vista Baptist Church.


PictureHerbert Ponder
​VBC endorses Rev. Dr. Herbert Ponder for the office of First Vice President of the BGAV.
 
Herbert is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (BA), and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University (MDiv and DMin), and was a 2016 fellow of the Black Theology and Leadership Institute at Princeton Theological Seminary.
 
He is currently the 8th pastor of the Mount Tabor Baptist Church since 1994. Herbert is the President of the Board of Armstrong Priorities Freshman Academy, Inc., and the immediate past president of the African American Fellowship of Virginia in the Baptist General Association of Virginia. He also serves on the Virginia Baptist Executive Board of the BGAV, where he has served as both Secretary and Vice Chair. He is currently the BGAV clerk.
 
Herbert will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Robert Whitehead, Senior Pastor, New Zion Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA.


PictureEllen Gwathmey
​VBC endorses Rev. Ellen Gwathmey for Second Vice-President of the BGAV.

Ellen has been involved in Virginia Baptist life for many years. Ellen is a graduate of Westhampton College of the University of Richmond. She has a Master’s Degree from the University of Richmond and a MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Ellen served as Minister of Visitation and Outreach for 10 years at River Road Church, Baptist. She served as Registrar of BTSR for five years. Ellen has served in a number of areas in Virginia Baptist Life. She is currently a member of her home church, Bruington Baptist, in Bruington, Virginia, in the Mid Tidewater Association where she was ordained to the ministry and currently serves as the Chair of Deacons.

Ellen will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Timothy K. Norman, retired pastor, denominational executive, and messenger from River Road Baptist in Richmond.


PictureNathan Taylor
​Finally, VBC is pleased to endorse Rev. Dr. Nathan Taylor to serve as Clerk of the BGAV. 

Nathan serves as executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. An ordained Baptist minister and Certified Archivist, he holds a D.Min. from Mercer University, a M.Div. from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, a B.S. from Asbury University, and has completed additional graduate work in archival studies at Louisiana State University. Prior experiences include congregational ministry, institutional advancement and history education. He is a member of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond.

Nathan will be nominated by Dr. Fred Anderson, messenger, River Road Church, Richmond.

These candidates are well qualified to serve and are committed to the work of the BGAV now and in the future.


These candidates are well qualified to serve and are committed to the work of the BGAV now and in the future.

VBC is happy to endorse these persons for these leadership positions.
VBC welcomes and encourages the nominations of other qualified candidates.
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OPEn Board Meeting - Fall 2021

9/2/2021

2 Comments

 
VBC members are invited to the open board meeting (via Zoom)
of Virginia Baptists Committed

Thursday, September 16, 2021
11:00 a.m. to Noon
via Zoom


Register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the blue button below.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
​
All members in good standing are invited to attend. 
Click here to Register Now
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POSTPONED - OPEN BOARD MEETING - SPRING 2020

2/26/2020

3 Comments

 
(updated March 31, 2020)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 
WE ARE POSTPONING THE VBC BOARD MEETING
originally scheduled to meet on April 30.

When the meeting is rescheduled,
we will post an announcement here.


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Endorsements for 2019-2020 BGAV officers

10/15/2019

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​Virginia Baptists Committed, a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the BGAV for the November 2019 annual meeting.

PictureAdam Tyler
​VBC is pleased to endorse Rev. Dr. Adam Tyler of Appomattox to serve for the office of BGAV President.
 
A graduate of Virginia Tech (BA ’04), Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (MDiv ’07) and Palmer Theological Seminary (DMin ’13), Adam is senior minister at Grace Hills Baptist Church in Appomattox since 2009. Before that, he was senior minister (2005-2009) at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, New Canton.
 
Adam has served on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and as BGAV Second Vice President (2016). He is currently the First Vice President of the BGAV and serves on the BGAV Executive Board. He also serves in relief chaplain ministry and has provided leadership in various local and Virginia Baptist ministries and missions.
 
Adam and his wife, Cadance, have been married for eight years, and they have two young children.
 
Adam will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Todd Blake, Pastor of Madison Heights Baptist, Madison Heights, VA.


PictureRon Gravatt
VBC endorses Dr. Ron Gravatt, a layman from Buena Vista Baptist Church, for the office of First Vice President of the BGAV. 
 
A graduate of Harvard College (BA ’69) and the University of Virginia (MA ’72, PhD ’87), Ron was a public school teacher in Buena Vista for 33 years. Ron has served his church as youth pastor and as a teacher for the Men’s Bible Class and its radio ministry. With three stints as Moderator of the Natural Bridge Baptist Association (NBBA), a term as the Association’s representative for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, and having preached in more than half of the NBBA’s 20 churches, he has become acquainted with Baptist work at the local and state levels.
 
Ron is married to his wife, Martha, for 39 years, and they have one daughter, Susan.
 
Rev. Bryon La Pere, Ron's pastor, will nominate Ron.


PictureCarol Johnston
​Rev. Carol Johnston is VBC’s candidate for Second Vice-President of the BGAV.
 
Carol was the pastor of Troutville Baptist Church for almost 20 years and was named Pastor Emerita following her retirement. She continues to be involved in a jail ministry, leads a Bible study and is involved in the Emmaus Community. Carol is a mother and grandmother.  Her late husband was Robert Johnston.
 
Carol will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Reggie Warren, currently Interim Pastor of Troutville Baptist.


PictureHerbert Ponder
​Finally, VBC is pleased to endorse Rev. Dr. Herbert Ponder to serve as Clerk of the BGAV.
 
Herbert is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (BA), and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology Virginia Union University (MDiv and DMin), and was a 2016 fellow of the Black Theology and Leadership Institute at the Princeton Theological Seminary.
 
He is currently the 8th pastor of the Mount Tabor Baptist Church since 1994. Herbert is the President of the Board of Armstrong Priorities Freshman Academy, Inc., and the immediate past president of the African American Fellowship of Virginia in the Baptist General Association of Virginia. He also serves on the Virginia Baptist Executive Board of the BGAV, where he has served as both Secretary and Vice Chair.
 
Herbert will be nominated by Rev. Dr. Robert Whitehead, Pastor at New Zion Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA.


​These candidates are well qualified to serve and are committed to the work of the BGAV now and in the future.
 
VBC is happy to endorse these persons for these leadership positions.
 
VBC welcomes and encourages the nominations of other qualified candidates.
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Fall Open Board Meeting

7/3/2019

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The fall open board meeting will be on
Thursday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. at 

Mechanicsville Baptist Church, 
8016 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville, VA

Following the meeting, attendees are invited to gather for a "dutch treat" lunch at a 
nearby restaurant.
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