Virginia's largest and oldest association of Baptists has severed its 145-year affiliation with Averett University in Danville.
Last month's gay pride week at the school, sponsored by the student-led Gay/Straight Alliance, proved to be the last in a series of wedge issues between the Baptists and the university.
The Virginia Baptist Mission Board, the executive arm of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, voted Wednesday to end the historic relationship that dates to Averett's founding in 1859. The Averett trustees are scheduled to act on the joint statement of separation April 15.
In a news release, John Upton, the mission board executive director, said, "We take this action without bitterness or ill will, but with a strong resolve. Our position has long been clear and decisive that homosexuality is a lifestyle that goes against Scripture and is contrary to stated Virginia Baptist core values."
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/21516.html
Baptists sever ties to Averett University
Discussion in 'Baptist Colleges & Seminaries' started by bb_baptist, Apr 8, 2005.
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Sounds like that should have happened a long long time ago.
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Good for the VA baptists. Wonder how long Averett will survive without funding from those churches. I doubt Averett has Richmond's or Mercer's endowment.
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Unfortunately this was a long time coming. Are they going to transfer the funds to another school?
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Dave G. said:
"Wonder how long Averett will survive without funding from those churches. I doubt Averett has Richmond's or Mercer's endowment."
From the Averett Web site:
"Are they going to transfer the funds to another school?"
The BGAV sequestered its funds for Averett last year, and the organization and the college finally agreed to use the money to pay for scholarships and to set up the Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network (for bivocational pastors.)
Under the latest agreement, Averett will give back unused funds and the convention will take over sole control of the new program.