Endorsements for 2021-2022 BGAV Officers

​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.

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Ron 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.

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Herbert 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.

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Ellen 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.

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Nathan 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.

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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.