• Priesthood of the Believer
We affirm and uphold the "priesthood of the believer," while accepting the responsibilities and privileges inherent therein.
This historic Baptist belief calls each person to be his or her own "priest" before God, needing no other human minister or
earthly priest for direct access to the Almighty. Inherent in this belief is freedom of expression of the Lord's leadership and
freedom of personal interpretation of the Scriptures, as led by the Holy Spirit.
Practice of this belief leads Christians to several responsibilities and privileges: spiritual development of our own selves and
of other believers; service to Christ through our time, talents and material possessions; and a commitment to sharing the
gospel message to the entire world.
• God's Call to Mission
We acknowledge God's call to every believer to carry the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.
Jesus' commandment to evangelize the world must be accepted by every believer. While some are called to go, others are
called to provide their support. But all are called to witness.
We seek to fulfill our responsibility for missions by creating an environment for the awareness of needs, by enabling individuals
to respond to God's call, by preparing them for service and by providing prayer and financial support.
• Prayer for Missions
We embrace the privilege and responsibility of prayer for missionaries and mission needs.
The practice of prayer is both a privilege and responsibility of every believer.
The biblical example of prayer is the pattern to follow. Consistent prayer for missionaries and mission needs is foundational
to mission support.
• Giftedness of Believers
We recognize and affirm the giftedness of all persons but emphasize the work of women and girls in Christian endeavors.
The giftedness of all persons is manifested in varied ways. Through Bible study, adults, youth and children receive affirmation
of their personhood, of their call to service, and of their gifts for service. Through studies about spiritual gifts, they are
led to discover and assess their strengths and abilities for Christ's service.
• Social and Moral Issues
We acknowledge the biblical mandate to respond to social and moral issues with actions as modeled by Jesus Christ and
with a message of His redemptive plan.
Because of crises created by changing values and complexities in our society we are called on to use our unique gifts in
ministering to victims and becoming advocates for righting the ills and eliminating the injustices. Identification of social
issues will heighten awareness and create sensitivity resulting in specific strategies for intervention.
• Development of Leaders
We acknowledge and accept the responsibility for developing missions leaders.
Acting upon a spiritual mandate to develop believers Woman's Missionary Union is committed to motivating and challenging
them to consider spiritual and missions leadership roles.
By providing the content, the tools, the resources, and the opportunities, leaders are equipped to accept challenges, to grow,
and to provide responsible direction to others.
Through nurturing and mentoring, adults, youth, children and preschoolers develop leadership skills, and they encourage
leadership roles in others. And through missions endeavors, they are provided unique and ample opportunities for service
for the cause of Christ.
• Partnership with Christians Around the World
We covenant to partner with Christians around the world, as individually and corporately we multiply each other's efforts to
lead non-believers to Christ.
Relationships will be developed, nurtured, and/or strengthened as we partner with believers in national, transnational and
international Baptist organizations, with missionaries, and with partnership states and countries.
Ministry and witness to all women and children, and advocacy for them, will be important by products of this partnering
effort. Undergirding the partnership will be diligent prayer support, both through traditional channels of prayer support,
such as the Baptist Women's Day of Prayer, and through newly directed prayer efforts, such as those to unreached people
groups.
• Diverse Organizational Models
We pledge to provide diverse, flexible organizational models through which persons may participate in the global missions
effort.
Changing complexities and diverse dynamics on the domestic front call for organizational models that allow for: different
lifestyles of women; varied choices and time demands facing children and youth; coed preferences; family-oriented needs;
and ethnic and language diversities.
Heightened awareness of and sensitivity to cultural differences and cultural changes impact the way we design strategies,
provide missions education, equip believers, and implement creative channels for involving persons in living out the Great
Commission.
Effective strategies for reaching non-believers increasingly will require: missions education that is custom-designed for
diverse cultural groups, both as member and as missions target audiences; awareness-building efforts that lead to increased
participation in missions opportunities; and tailored training for long- and short-term missions involvement.
Creativity and closer coordination will be required in strategies that provide mission support and in strategies designed to
involve individuals in meeting worldwide missions needs.
Clarifying Our Timeless Mission
Goals of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia 2005-2007
Goal I: Claim our identity by reconnecting with our
radical, progressive roots.
Strategies:
• Build for tomorrow but be relevant today
• Be a prophetic voice by speaking boldly to issues
• Promote and market our true identity through innovative
multi-faceted communication
Goal II: Form partnerships and collaborate with those
with a common purpose.
Strategies:
• Investigate partnerships possibilities
• Baptist World Alliance
• North American Baptist Women’s Union
• Cooperative Baptist Fellowship—VA/National
• Global Women
• American Baptist Women
• Virginia Council of Churches
• District of Columbia Convention and Baptist
General Convention of Texas
• Bon Secours Hospital and other Health &
Wellness entities
• National Children’s Defense
• YMCA & YWCA
• Governmental agencies and corporate entities
• Collegiate Women’s Organizations
• Blend mission efforts, work with different faithbased
groups and Agencies
• Clarify existing partnerships and insist on accountability
Goal III: Create a holistic approach to meet women’s
needs (emotionally, physically and spiritually).
Strategies:
• Find connecting links for all ages - cultures
• Focus on spiritual growth and development - address
spiritual giftedness
• Provide pathways to health & wellness
• Engage women in transcultural faith journeys
Goal IV: Become more multi-cultural.
Strategies:
• Be bridge-builders - launch a new ministry to bridge
cultures and build relationships
• Become more ethnically diverse
• Collaborate with the American Baptists and/or other
multi-ethnic bodies
• Educate through correct missiology
• Connect with women around the world
Goal V: Be intentional about leadership development.
Strategies:
• Reach children with missions education and nurture
their leadership development
• Educate, nurture and mentor adults and youth
• Promote Wings (a new way of doing missions
education - process learning curriculum)
• Bridge the gap between college and career addressing
the needs of young women
• Provide creative resources (i.e., HorsePower: teaching
leadership utilizing horse-handling principles and
techniques
• Develop multiple Leader in Training (LIT) learning
tracks for CrossRoads Summer camping program
• Advocate for women in church leadership at all
levels
Goal VI: Live our faith—in home, church, community
and world.
Strategies:
• Assess church needs and respond accordingly
• Provide avenues for spiritual development and
reflection
• Promote ministry projects and connect work world
skills
• Provide opportunities for individuals to experience
hands-on missions and ministry
• Promote World Missions Unlimited (a new churchbased
model) of missions learning and involvement
Be agents of community transformation
Goal VII: Secure the future of Woman's Missionary
Union of Virginia.
• Establish on-going WMUV Development Plans
• Grant scholarships and promote connecting ministry
points
• Integrate missions into other Baptist programs and
network with Partners
• Educate members of Woman's Missionary Union of
Virginia, keeping current in world affairs and denominational
strategies as they relate to the future of
missions
