In a business session on February 21, approximately 100 members of our church family unanimously passed the following motions:

Motion 1: Amend Section 3, Article VI of the Church Constitution

From:

This religious body is voluntarily affiliated with the Peninsula Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance.

To:

This church's anchor affiliation is with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, with other voluntary associations being the Baptist World Alliance, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Peninsula Baptist Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Affiliations may be changed if the church identifies such action as being helpful to fulfill its mission.

Motion 2:

That the church identify the Baptist General Association of Virginia as its anchor affiliation in any official publications, documents, and designations. Also, because our affiliation will continue to include a number of other connections, this will necessitate removing the designation, SBC, from the church sign, the telephone directory, and anywhere that SBC is used to identify our primary affiliation.

An amendment to the second motion was also approved:

The phrase A Virginia Baptist Church or Affiliated with the BGA of VA be placed on our sign, as well as correspondence, announcements, and literature as deemed appropriate by the pastor and church staff.

Original Affliation Report

All 21 members of the Deacon Board attended the Deacon meeting and unanimously adopted the following report on Sunday, February 4, 2001.

Motions and Report Regarding the Affiliation of Walnut Hills Baptist Church with the Southern Baptist Convention

Background and Introduction

For all of its 36-year history, Walnut Hills Baptist Church has considered it important to be affiliated with other groups of Baptist churches in organizations such as the Peninsula Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and the Southern Baptist Convention. During the past twenty years, however, the Southern Baptist Convention has taken actions that we believe run counter to the Baptist beliefs and values adopted by Walnut Hills Baptist Church.

At the October 18, 2000, quarterly business meeting of Walnut Hills Baptist church the following motion was approved:

An organization representative of the church, such as the deacons or church council, will present formal motions on behalf of the church at or prior to the December called business meeting and that the church then act on those.

The motion grew out of a review by the pastor on the possibility of withdrawing our affiliation from the Southern Baptist Convention and/or joining the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. A large number of our church family had requested that Walnut Hills respond in some way to recent actions by the Southern Baptist Convention. Members expressed concern that information be presented to the congregation in an objective forum in order for the membership to make an informed decision.

Since then, a subcommittee of the deacon body has prayerfully, respectfully, and diligently researched the issues both sent to the church and presented at the November 16, 2000, open meeting to designate concerns. It is with a spirit of reconciliation and peace, that the deacons respectfully bring the following for the church's consideration.

Motions

1. We move to amend Section 3, Article VI of the Church Constitution from:
   
   This religious body is voluntarily affiliated with the Peninsula Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance.
   
   to:
   
   This church's anchor affiliation is with the Baptist General Association of Virginia, with other voluntary associations being the Baptist World Alliance, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Peninsula Baptist Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Affiliations may be changed if the church identifies such action as being helpful to fulfill its mission.
2. We move that the church identify the Baptist General Association of Virginia as its anchor affiliation in any official publications, documents, and designations. Also, because our affiliation will continue to include a number of other connections, this will necessitate removing the designation, SBC, from the church sign, the telephone directory, and anywhere that SBC is used to identify our primary affiliation.

Reporting, Discussion, Rationale

This motion does not so much change our present affiliations as it does to make clear and affirm what they are. In 1991 Walnut Hills Baptist Church, after careful study and review, voted the WM II Budget plan of the Baptist General Association of Virginia to be its primary giving plan. Individuals retained the right to designate their offerings for WM I (primarily supporting the SBC) or for WM III (primarily supporting the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)). This action, primary giving to WM II, effectively designated the Baptist General Association of Virginia as the anchor affiliation of Walnut Hills Baptist Church.

Through our giving we have been affiliated with multiple organizations; however, we have been incorrectly identified as primarily Southern Baptists. The amendment to the church constitution clarifies and publicly declares our intention of remaining affiliated with each association while identifying ourselves primarily as Virginia Baptists. Walnut Hills Baptist Church has always sought to value personal freedom and responsibility. We believe this motion maintains the goal of being inclusive of a diverse membership.

Process and Voting

The Constitution and Bylaws of Walnut Hills Baptist Church may be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any business meeting, notice thereof having been given in writing at a previous business meeting. These motions, read and provided in writing at a called business meeting on Sunday, February 11, 2001, will also be mailed to the general membership.

The motion shall be made and full discussion prior to a vote will follow at the called business meeting on Wednesday, February 21, 2001.

Deacon Board of Walnut Hills Baptist Church