June 26-30: 117th Baptist General Convention To Convene In Chesapeake

RICHMOND
The Baptist General Convention of Virginia ( BGCVA) 117th Annual Session and Congress of Christian Education will convene June 26 – 30th at the Chesapeake Conference Center, 900 Greenbrier Circle, Chesapeake, VA. The session will kick-off on Sunday evening June 26th with a youth led Opening Worship at 7 p.m. This worship is open to the public. The goal of the Congress of Christian Education is that churches and associations will become more unified and proactive in addressing issues that confront and challenge effective ministry. The aim is to offer a variety of teaching/learning opportunities that provide participants with strategies on how to be effective in addressing current issues including missions/outreach, Faith Formation, church growth, health, finance/economics and various social justice concerns. Registered participants can choose from 32 classes offered on June 27, 28 and 29. Plenary Session 1 on June 27 and Plenary Session 2 on June 29th will focus on Contemporary Social Justice Issues Facing the Church.

BGCVA Director of Social Justice, Reverend Dr. J. Elisha Burke notes that “In light of current Social Justice Challenges, including, but not limited to Civil Rights, Voter Rights, Mass Incarceration, a Living Wage, Medicaid Expansion, Payday Lending, etc. we must actively follow the biblical mandate for justice for everyone, everywhere.” Featured speakers during the session include Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr., Senior Pastor, Bethel Church, Jacksonville, FL; Dr. Steven G. Blunt, President, BGCVA and Pastor, First Baptist Church-Mahan, Suffolk, VA; Dr. John W. Kinney, Dean, School of Theology, Virginia Union University and Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Beaverdam, VA; Dr. Adam L. Bond, Assistant Professor, School of Theology, Virginia Union University and Pastor, Providence Baptist Church, Ashland, VA; Dr. Charles D. Kellam, Moderator, Eastern Shore Baptist Association and Pastor, New Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Painter, VA; and Reverend F. Todd Gray, Pastor, Fifth Street Baptist Church, Richmond, VA.

Complete details of this event are available on the Baptist General Convention of Virginia website (bgcva.org). On-site registration will be available beginning on Sunday, June 26th at 2 p.m. Please contact the BGCVA office at (804) 228-2421 if you need additional information. BGCVA provides local church leadership development by way of customized teaching and training events for 900+ congregations and 29 associations in the areas of worship, fellowship, stewardship, evangelism, missions and discipleship. Reverend David L. Chapman is the Interim Executive Minister and Reverend Dr. Steven G. Blunt serves as state president.