RESOLUTION NO. 1

ON APPRECIATION FOR DR. MARK FOLEY

WHEREAS, Dr. Mark Foley was unanimously elected by the University of Mobile Board of Trustees as the third president of the institution on February 13, 1998, when presidential search committee Chairman Ed Massey, speaking for the Board, said, “We believe Mark Foley is God’s man for the job”; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Foley joined the University during a critical transitional period and led the institution to intentionally integrate learning, faith and leadership in all areas of university life, while raising academic standards, building new residence halls, establishing outstanding programs such as the Center for Performing Arts, and attaining national rankings; and

WHEREAS, His emphasis on the core values of faith, learning, conviction, integrity, stewardship and leadership has extended to all operations of the University, from the classroom to the administrative offices; and

WHEREAS, With these core values in place, the University is committed to graduating confident Christian men and women who have mastered the body of knowledge required by the degree they hold, who know how to think, who know what they believe and why they believe it, who possess the courage to live and work according to those beliefs, who accept responsibility as caretakers of that with which God has entrusted them, and who possess the willingness and skill to use their influence in appropriate and effective ways to change the world around them; and

WHEREAS, Community service and the individual’s responsibility to use their personal influence in effective ways to change the world were concepts incorporated into academic programs, resulting in nationally recognized efforts such as Project Serve, an annual day of service involving more than 1,200 students, faculty and staff sharing God’s love through volunteering at more than 60 locations across two counties in south Alabama; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure, the University invested $44.8 million in capital projects, including a recent $7 million campus enhancement program that was the most far-reaching campus-wide improvement of buildings and grounds since the 1970s; built three residence halls; added a professional recording studio and Ram Hall auditorium; and created Bedsole Commons student center; and

WHEREAS, He led the University to develop its 2020 Vision strategic plan that set as its outcome, “By 2020, The University of Mobile will be a nationally recognized voice and transforming influence in the revitalization of Christian faith and character in America”; and

WHEREAS, He has served in leadership at national and regional levels in a variety of educational and charitable organizations, including the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Alabama Association of Independent Colleges and Schools, the Council of Presidents of the Southern States Athletic Conference, and the Board of Directors of Volunteers of America, Southeast, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology and Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, He is an ordained minister and previously served as executive vice president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a former business owner and professional counselor; and

WHEREAS, Through the leadership of Dr. Foley, along with the dedication and involvement in university life of his wife, Marilyn, the influence of the University of Mobile and its graduates is extending worldwide; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Daphne, Alabama, November 17-18, 2015, commend Dr. Mark Foley for more than 17 years of service to the University of Mobile; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That the Alabama Baptist State Convention expresses its gratitude to Dr. Mark Foley and Marilyn, and asks God’s continued blessings on their lives as he retires from one assignment as president of the University of Mobile and prepares to begin his next assignment, during which he will continue using his influence in service to our Lord while “Changing Lives to Change the World.”

 

RESOLUTION NO. 2

IN APPRECIATION AND PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES

WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists, because of their faithful giving through the Cooperative Program and to associational missions, have persistently provided strong support for international, North American, state and associational missionaries; and

WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists, through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, have provided substantial additional support for international and North American missionaries, respectively; and

WHEREAS, The season is approaching when all Southern Baptists will be asked to consider gifts for international missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering; and

WHEREAS, Prayer must undergird missions as the foundation and first form of support of all missionaries; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists are being asked to observe the Week of Prayer and Mission Study for International Missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, November 29 to December 6, 2015; and

WHEREAS, During the last quarter of 2015, a unique prayer need exists in the lives of hundreds of International Mission Board (IMB) personnel who have accepted an offer and incentive to depart from IMB missions service as the Board seeks strategies for dealing with immediate and long-term financial challenges; and

WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union, in partnership with an IMB Transition Team, are seeking ways to assist returning missionaries who have connections to and roots in Alabama; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Daphne, Alabama, November 17-18, 2015, call upon Southern Baptists to pray both for IMB personnel who are returning and those who will continue to serve with the IMB; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage Southern Baptist churches to participate in the Week of Prayer and Mission Study as a way of understanding the importance of praying for missionaries and how the Gospel will continue to be shared around the world through the ministries of IMB personnel; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we ask both Southern Baptist congregations and individuals to consider making their largest gifts ever through the 2015 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 3

IN SUPPORT OF ALABAMA LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS

TO PROTECT UNBORN LIFE (as amended)

WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists have been strong advocates of the right to life of the unborn; and

WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists have, in recent years, strongly supported legislation and legal actions to limit and restrict the wanton practice of abortion; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, the Center for Medical Progress has released a series of videos uncovering the inhumane practices of Planned Parenthood and revealing the heinous reality of the abortion industry; and

WHEREAS, In the wake of the nationwide outcry following these videos, the Alabama Legislature may introduce strong pro-life legislation in the 2016 Legislative Session; and

WHEREAS, The Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act has been successfully passed in several other states; and

WHEREAS, The Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act would effectively prohibit the most common form of abortion — abortion by dismemberment — in Alabama and be another step toward protecting the lives of unborn children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Daphne, Alabama, November 17-18, 2015, urge the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama State Senate to prioritize passage of similar legislation to the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act in the 2016 Legislative Session; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge members of the Alabama Legislature to seek effective ways to protect the lives of the unborn through these and other legislative actions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we pray that Planned Parenthood will reverse their inhumane position and practices regarding abortion; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support efforts to end all public funding of Planned Parenthood; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we pray for those who have been victims of or participants in the abortion industry and that we urge compassion for and ministry to these individuals.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 4

IN DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

WHEREAS, The roots of religious liberty in the United States of America began with the practices of religious persecution in Europe; and

WHEREAS, The American founders sought to prevent these acts of persecution which prominently affected the free practice of religion in Europe by removing the authority of government over matters of religious liberty; and

WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is considered to be the foundation for the free exercise of religion; and

WHEREAS, For Christians, religious liberty is more than a religious tenet or principle, it is a matter of conscience and obedience to Jesus Christ our Lord; and

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court on June 26, 2015, in the case ofObergefell v. Hodges, by a vote of 5-4, effectively redefined marriage, departing from the centuries-old understanding of marriage as practiced by civilized people — that is, between one man and one woman; and

WHEREAS, This controversial decision is a turning point in history and also in the potential interpretation of American constitutional law in regards to our First Amendment freedoms; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Daphne, Alabama, November 17-18, 2015, reaffirm our stated belief that American citizens have historic and constitutional rights to exercise religious liberty; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptists teach, preach and practice this religious freedom in acts of worship and in freely and publicly expressing deeply-held religious convictions.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 5

ON OPPOSITION TO PRIVATIZATION AND EXPANSION

OF ALCOHOL SALES IN ALABAMA

WHEREAS, After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the State of Alabama established strict controls of the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages; and

WHEREAS, Under this system of control, Alabama currently has the second lowest liquor consumption rate in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Privatizing liquor sales in Alabama would likely result in stores being open late at night and on Sundays and thus result in an expansion of liquor sales through increased availability; and

WHEREAS, Such increased availability has been shown to result in increased consumption of alcoholic beverages; and

WHEREAS, Such increased availability also leads to increased underage drinking, increased problem drinking and increased alcoholism; and

WHEREAS, Increased underage drinking, problem drinking and alcoholism inevitably hurt families and endanger public health and public safety; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Daphne, Alabama, November 17-18, 2015, urge the Alabama Legislature to reject privatization or any other legislation that would result in the expansion of the sale of alcohol beverages in Alabama.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 6

ON APPRECIATION

WHEREAS, The messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention have enjoyed a time of encouragement, worship, fellowship, and Great Commission concern and awareness; and

WHEREAS, We acknowledge the Lord’s provision of all these blessings; and

WHEREAS, We express appreciation for the kind hospitality of the people of Daphne; and

WHEREAS, We acknowledge the work of local Baptist churches, the Baldwin Baptist Association, the committees and volunteers of the area for their diligent efforts, services and accommodations to make our stay a pleasant one; and

WHEREAS, We especially thank the Eastern Shore Baptist Church for the use of their building, service, kindness and their support; and

WHEREAS, We acknowledge the Lord worked through our President, Dr. Travis Coleman, Jr., other officers, various committees, Convention speakers, musicians, and other platform personnel to guide the affairs of this Convention with dignity and in a Christlike spirit; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Daphne, Alabama, November 17-18, 2015, express our gratitude to the Lord and to all those whom He used to bring about a Convention characterized by worship, encouragement, and concern for evangelism, ministry, and the Great Commission.