RESOLUTION NO. 1
ON APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, The messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention enjoyed a time of encouragement, worship, prayer, fellowship, and unity of purpose in the Great Commission; and
WHEREAS, We thank God for the outstanding leadership of our Convention officers and committees; and
WHEREAS, We acknowledge the Lord’s presence and blessings on our Convention; and
WHEREAS, We especially thank the Eastmont Baptist Church for the use of their facilities, services of every kind, and their support and hospitality; and
WHEREAS, We appreciate the Montgomery Baptist Association, area churches, and the ministers of those churches who have played a significant role in making this Convention a success; and
WHEREAS, We express gratitude for Convention speakers, musicians, and other platform personalities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, on November 15-16, 2016, express our profound gratitude to God and to those whom He used to bring about Convention sessions characterized by God’s leadership.
RESOLUTION NO. 2
IN SUPPORT OF PRO-LIFE ACTION IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE
WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists have long advocated in our churches and in the public arena for the right to life of the unborn; and
WHEREAS, In 2015 Alabama Baptists adopted a Resolution in Support of the Alabama Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act to prohibit some cases of the wanton practice of dismemberment abortion; and
WHEREAS, During the 2016 Legislative Session, the Alabama Legislature passed three pro-life bills including the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act, the Unborn Infant’s Dignity Act, and a bill requiring abortion clinics to be at least 2,000
feet away from a public school; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, on November 15-16, 2016, thank sponsoring Representatives April Weaver, Ed Henry, and Mack Butler and sponsoring Senators Bill Hightower, Paul Sanford, and Phil Williams for their courage and resolve to see these bills to passage; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention applaud the Alabama House of Representatives, the Alabama State Senate, and Governor Robert Bentley for taking these important steps toward providing full protection for Alabama’s unborn children; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention strongly urge the Alabama Legislature to prioritize passage in the 2017 Legislative Session of additional legislation protecting life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.
RESOLUTION NO. 3
ON GAMBLING
WHEREAS, The Governor of Alabama has established a council to study gambling in Alabama (the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming) that is expected to make recommendations to the Alabama Legislature concerning changes in the gambling laws of the state; and
WHEREAS, The existence of such a council on gambling is not necessary, but the enforcement of existing laws against gambling is needed; and
WHEREAS, The Bible gives numerous principles that show gambling to be an activity that Christians should oppose (Exodus 20:3-5 and Matthew 6:33; Exodus 20:15; Exodus 20:16 and Leviticus 19:11; Exodus 20:17; Philippians 4:19; Philippians 2:4; 1 Corinthians
4:1-2; Ephesians 4:28; Romans 12:10; and Romans 14:13); and
WHEREAS, Many in the Alabama Legislature continue to introduce and advocate for gambling expansion in the state, including (but not limited to) a state-sponsored lottery, casino gambling, a tribal compact, and internet gambling in the form of daily fantasy sports betting; and
WHEREAS, State-sponsored and/or state-sanctioned gambling preys upon the poorest citizens of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, State-sponsored and/or state-sanctioned gambling is based on deceiving the state’s own citizens into believing that gambling is a solution to their financial struggles, while in fact, in most cases, it worsens an individual’s or family’s financial
difficulties; and
WHEREAS, State-sponsored and state-sanctioned gambling hurts the local and state economies by depleting other, more established revenue streams, such as sales taxes; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, on November 15-16, 2016, oppose any and all attempts by the Governor and/or State Legislators to expand any form of state-sponsored, state-sanctioned and predatory gambling in Alabama; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the President of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and the Executive Director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions be authorized to send a copy of this resolution to the Governor, members of the Alabama Advisory Council on Gaming and all Alabama Legislators.
RESOLUTION NO. 4
ON PRAYER AND SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
WHEREAS, The Old Testament declares God’s promise to Abram, “I will make you into a great nation … I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3, HCSB); and
WHEREAS, Israel represents the descendants of Jacob as an ethnic, cultural, and national entity (Genesis 32:28); and
WHEREAS, The New Testament affirms that salvation is from the Jews and that God’s Word concerning Israel will be fulfilled (John 4:22; Romans 9-11); and
WHEREAS, We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the salvation of Israel (Psalm 122:6-7; Romans 10:1); and
WHEREAS, We share with the nation of Israel many values as the only democratic ally of the United States in the Middle East; and
WHEREAS, We acknowledge that within the nation of Israel we have many brothers and
sisters in Christ; and
WHEREAS, The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement seeks to isolate the nation of Israel economically and socially; and
WHEREAS, We are concerned by anti-Israel activities in this country within certain university campuses, academic and professional associations, and popular culture; and
WHEREAS, We thankfully remember that we are indebted to the Jewish people, who gave
us much of our Bible and from their lineage came our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, November 15-16, 2016, commit to bless Israel; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we support the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign state and reject any activities that attack that right by promoting economic, cultural, and academic boycotts against Israel; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we commend the Alabama legislature and the Governor for passing legislation opposing BDS; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That at this critical time when dangerous forces are mounting up against the
nation of Israel, we recommit ourselves to pray for God’s peace to rule in Jerusalem and for the salvation of Israel, for the Gospel is “God’s power for salvation to everyone who
believes, first to the Jew” (Romans 1:16, HCSB).
RESOLUTION NO. 5
ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF CHRISTIANS TOWARD THE ISLAMIC WORLD
WHEREAS, We believe that all human beings are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27,
5:1; 9:6; Psalm 139:14); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach us that our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with
powers and principalities (2 Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:15); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that the State wields the sword of justice (Matthew
22:15-22; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17); and
WHEREAS, The book of Revelation gives us a picture of Christ’s Kingdom filled with
worshippers from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Revelation 5:8-10; 7:9-10;
21:22-27; 22:2); and
WHEREAS, One of the most significant geopolitical threats in the world is related to
radical Islam; and
WHEREAS, The United States has been at war and in conflict with radical Islam for at least the past 15 years; and
WHEREAS, Not all Muslims are radical terrorists and are often the primary victims of radical Islamic terrorism; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptists maintain an attitude of love and prayer toward all Muslim peoples (Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 21:22; Luke 9:54-56; 19:10; 2 Timothy 2:1-4); and be it further
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptists strongly support the defeat of radical Islamic terrorism;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptists view the Islamic world as a mission field (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:20); and be it further
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptists see Muslims primarily as human beings for whom Christ died (John 3:16; John 10:10; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 4:42; 1 John 4:14); and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, on November 15-16, 2016, join other Alabama Baptists in the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslim peoples (Psalm 67:1-7; Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:21; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians
2:5-11; 2 Timothy 4:2-5).
by Dogwood