West End Baptist Church Resigns from Southern Baptist Convention
The West End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Virginia voted September 24, 2000 to resign from the Southern Baptist Convention. The action was taken during a called church conference held expressly to discuss and vote on a resignation motion. That motion, first introduced from the floor at a regularly scheduled church conference on July 20, had been tabled to allow church members to learn more about the Baptist Faith and Message statement adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) during its June meeting in Orlando.
As the SBC Committee on Baptist Faith and Message reported to the Convention, the new statement “is intended to clarify [Southern Baptist] doctrines for this present age, and to define [Southern Baptist] beliefs against the backdrop of modern confusion.” Many among the West End membership expressed alarm over these ‘clarifications’ and ‘definitions’ of belief. Of particular concern were changes that de-emphasize soul competency and priesthood of the believer, that elevate the Bible above Jesus Christ, and that exclude women from the pastorate.
The motion, which was approved by 77% of the members voting, read:
“Be it resolved that West End Baptist Church, after prayerful consideration, debate, and 2/3 majority vote by secret ballot, does hereby resign from the Southern Baptist Convention effective July 20, 2000. In addition, West End Baptist Church will not financially support SBC causes.”
Sylvia Pond, chairperson of the West End Board of Deacons, noted how difficult the vote had been for the church membership. “Many of us have been associated with the Southern Baptist Convention for most of our lives. We remember the good things that have come from the SBC, especially in the area of missions." She added, “You can’t say that we’re leaving the SBC. The Southern Baptist Convention has already left us. The recent changes to the Baptist Faith and Message deviate so significantly from the historic principles and beliefs we hold so dear that we simply can no longer support them.”
That perspective was supported by Reverend T. Floyd “Skip” Irby, Jr., pastor at West End for the past 14 years. Following the vote, he noted that, “Today's action clarified who we are and with whom we choose to affiliate. We do not see a local Baptist church as the local franchise of any national convention or group, but as an autonomous church, choosing its affiliations. West End has chosen not to participate in the change of direction in being Baptist that has been demonstrated by the current Southern Baptist Convention, but to move forward and continue on the path of historic Baptist principles and ministries that is our heritage in Virginia."
During the two months between introduction of the motion and the vote, the WEBC deacon board worked to share information and engage church members in discussion. The board developed a question and answer fact sheet to respond to questions most often asked by members. During its regular Thursday “Family Night” suppers, the church presented a videotape series on historical Baptist beliefs and principles such as soul competency, priesthood of the believer, and local church autonomy.
Although West End will discontinue financial support for the SBC, it will continue its financial support of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Global Missions Offering. The church membership will explore other missions options as well. Pond noted that the church will assist any member who wishes to support SBC missions independently.
West End Baptist Church will continue its association with the Blackwater Baptist Association and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. The church membership will explore the possibility of affiliating with other Baptist groups.