FBCA Constitutional & Budget Amendments

First Family,

This coming Sunday is our second Quarterly Business meeting. We have several items to discuss and present. We will hear from both our search teams (Student and Worship), a report from our messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention, and an update from our newly appointed team, which has been stewarding the potential acquisition of the King Street properties. We will gather in the sanctuary and stream online for those unable to attend in person.

I want to share the two items that our Executive Church Council will present. They have diligently reviewed our four constitutional partners for a year, gathering information, asking questions, and prayerfully discerning with whom we should partner in the coming years. After this season, the Executive Church Council will present the following constitutional and 2024 budget amendments.

Currently, Article II, the Fourth item of the Constitution, reads:

“In all these things, to cooperate with the NorthStar Association, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Baptist World Alliance.”
The recommendation of the Executive Church Council is to amend Article II, the Fourth item of the Constitution, to read,

“In all these things, to cooperate with the NorthStar Church Network, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and the Baptist World Alliance.”

This amendment notes that the Southern Baptist Convention is no longer listed as a partner in ministry for the First Baptist Church of Alexandria.

The second item is an amendment to the 2024 budget due to the above proposal. We currently give 12% of our budget to the denominational missions through the SBC and BGAV. In addition, we give a fixed gift to NorthStar and BWA. Considering the above amendment, the 4% of giving to the SBC needs to be reallocated.

The Executive Church Council recommends the following budget amendment effective June 11, 2024.

2024 Denominational Mission Budget

Partnership Current % Proposed Budget Amendment
SBC 4%                               0%
BGAV 8%                                No change - remains 8%
NorthStar $28,500                Additional 3%
BWA $3,800.00                     Additional 1%
Total $457,077.00                  $457,077.00

These two items will not be voted upon during our meeting on July 7th. However, they will be voted upon during a Special Called Meeting on August 11th during both of our services by ballot vote.

These amendments represent a significant amount of work for our Executive Church Council. I would like to personally thank each member for their faithfulness to the process and for enabling us to make such a decision as a congregation. Thank you!

I look forward to celebrating all that God is doing in our midst during our Business Meeting.

Pastor Robert