Virginia Baptists Committed (VBC), a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) for the November 2025 Annual Meeting.

Chief Stephen R. Adkins – Candidate for President

Virginia Baptists Committed is pleased to endorse Chief Stephen R. Adkins for the office of President of the BGAV.

Chief Adkins is a devoted Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Samaria Baptist Church in Providence Forge, a former Moderator of the Dover Baptist Association, and has represented the association for two terms on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.

A graduate of Bacone Junior College in Muskogee, Oklahoma (Associate of Arts), and Virginia Commonwealth University (B.S. in Business Administration), Chief Adkins built a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. He worked at DuPont for forty years, retiring in 2006, and later served the Commonwealth of Virginia as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resource Management under the administrations of Governors Tim Kaine and Bob McDonnell.

Since 2001, Chief Adkins has served as Principal Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe. His leadership extends to multiple boards, including the Argent Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.

Chief Adkins and his wife, Eunice J. Adkins, are blessed with five children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

He will be nominated by Kristin Olson, member of Haymarket Baptist Church in Haymarket.

Rev. Mark Mofield – Candidate for First Vice President

Virginia Baptists Committed is pleased to endorse the Reverend Mark Mofield, Senior Pastor of Melrose Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia, for the office of First Vice President of the BGAV.

Mark’s roots in Virginia Baptist life run deep. When his family moved to Roanoke during his middle school years, they joined Colonial Avenue Baptist Church, where his mother, Laney Mofield, served first as Music Minister and later as Associate Pastor. As a Virginia Baptist Scholar, Mark attended the University of Richmond, where he became a leader in the Baptist Student Union and served on mission teams throughout the state. He also spent several summers as a ministerial intern at Colonial Avenue.

After earning his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, Mark returned to Roanoke to serve as Associate Pastor of Melrose Baptist Church. Beginning in 2001, he spent nearly two decades as Senior Pastor of two congregations in North Carolina before returning to Melrose Baptist in 2020 to serve once again as Senior Pastor.

Since returning to Virginia, Mark has served three years on the Committee on Boards and Committees, including two years as chairperson. He also completed Next Level Leadership training through the BGAV and participated in Impact Missions projects in Damascus and South Hill.

Mark and his wife, Amy, have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two sons, Justin and Noah, and a daughter-in-law, Hailey.

Mark will be nominated by the Reverend Bryon Lepere, Senior Pastor of Gayton Baptist Church in Henrico.

Rev. James D. Bunce – Candidate for Second Vice President

Virginia Baptists Committed endorses the Reverend James D. “Jim” Bunce, Pastor of Marlow Heights Baptist Church in Front Royal, for the office of Second Vice President of the BGAV.

A native of rural Indiana, Jim met and married his high school sweetheart, Suzy. Together they are blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Since 1989, Jim has served three Virginia Baptist congregations, celebrating his 25th anniversary as pastor of Marlow Heights this past August.

Jim earned a Doctor of Ministry in Contextual Theology from Northern Seminary. He has served multiple terms on the Committee for Scholarships and Ministerial Education Funds and currently serves on the Missions Council for the Valley Region. His previous denominational leadership includes terms on the Board of Trustees for the Religious Herald and the Credentials Committee.

Beyond his church and denominational work, Jim serves on the Board of Directors for a local men’s homeless shelter and has long participated in mission-based home construction projects.

Jim will be nominated by the Reverend Dr. Greg Anderson, Pastor of Belmont Baptist Church in Charlottesville.

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Rev. Dr. Timothy N. Madison – Candidate for Clerk

Virginia Baptists Committed is pleased once again to endorse the Reverend Dr. Timothy N. Madison for the position of Clerk of the BGAV.

Tim serves as Pastor of Emmaus Baptist Church in Providence Forge, Virginia. Over the past 35 years, he has faithfully served four BGAV congregations and held numerous leadership roles within the BGAV, including President, First Vice President, Chair of the Budget Committee, Memorial Committee, and Committee on Boards and Committees. He has also completed two terms on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, where he chaired the Support Services Team.

Beyond his state-level service, Tim has served as Moderator of both the Lynchburg and Dover Baptist Associations, as well as Moderator and Recording Secretary for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. In addition, he has contributed to his local community as a volunteer chaplain with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

With his extensive background and deep institutional knowledge, Tim brings valuable experience and continuity to the role of Clerk, helping to ensure the accurate preservation of BGAV’s official records and proceedings.

Tim will be nominated by the Reverend Dr. Mike Hatfield, Pastor of Chatham Heights Baptist Church.

Virginia Baptists Committed celebrates these four dedicated, well-qualified leaders for their faithful service and commitment to the ongoing mission and ministry of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

VBC is honored to endorse these individuals for leadership positions within the BGAV and welcomes the nominations of other qualified candidates who share a passion for serving Virginia Baptists now and in the future.

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