RESOLUTION NO. 1
On a Call for Prayer and Unity
WHEREAS, Christians are exhorted in Scripture to offer “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings … for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, CSB); and
WHEREAS, The Sermon on the Mount declares that believers are to be salt and light in this world in order to “give glory to [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][our] Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16, CSB); and
WHEREAS, The words of Christ in Matthew 7:12, often called the Golden Rule, exhort that “whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them” (CSB); and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Floyd – senior pastor of Cross Church, Northwest Arkansas, and past president of the Southern Baptist Convention – is president of the National Day of Prayer, which will next be observed on May 2, 2019; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Trussville, Alabama, November 13-14, 2018, commit to pray for our leaders in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we likewise commit to pray for state and local officials; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Alabama Baptists to follow the Golden Rule in dialogue with others regarding matters of moral, ethical and spiritual concern in our life as a nation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage all U.S. citizens to demonstrate unity in advocating freedom of speech and religious liberty for each other; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we ask Alabama Baptist churches and associations to strongly consider planning to participate in the National Day of Prayer on May 2, 2019.
RESOLUTION NO. 2
On Christian Parenting for All Children
WHEREAS, The family is an institution established and blessed by the Lord, and families are the cornerstone of an orderly society; and
WHEREAS, Over the past several decades, Alabama families have grown progressively weaker and the pattern established by God has been neglected and even abandoned in many cases; and
WHEREAS, We believe that both fathers and mothers play a vital role in giving their children the best possible start in life, and children who lack a consistent presence of both parents suffer both in the long and short term; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that, in many cases, children who have grown up without the active involvement of both parents are in greater danger of ending up in poverty, dropping out of school, becoming addicted to drugs, having a child out of marriage, or going to prison; and
WHEREAS, God established the benefits of two loving parents, as Deuteronomy 5:16 (CSB) states: “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and so that you may prosper in the land the LORD your God is giving you”; and, in Deuteronomy 27:16 (CSB), God says, “The one who dishonors his father or mother is cursed”; and
WHEREAS, Because children have a God-given right to be loved and supported by both parents and their extended families, our responsibility as a Christian body is to help create a solid foundation for the future health and happiness for Alabama’s children; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Trussville, Alabama, November 13-14, 2018, stand for the family as the scriptural pattern for living and the foundation for a positive civic life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptists encourage all fathers and mothers to be equally committed to active participation in the challenges of raising their children in an atmosphere of healthy family life and that each play an effective personal role in the development of their children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptist churches make a serious commitment to undergird families, to empower all fathers and mothers to be exemplary spiritual leaders for their children and that every church encourage the practice of faithful Biblical parenting, that children be given the opportunity to grow and thrive in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord”; and be it further
RESOLVED, That Alabama Baptist churches teach sound Biblical values as God’s pattern for family life, marriage and parenting and that each church provide a spiritually-nourishing environment for every family and diligently commit to equipping parents to support and empower their children to fulfill their God-given potential; and be it further
RESOLVED, That all fathers and mothers commit themselves to placing their children’s well-being and spiritual health as a priority in their parenting, choosing the good of their children above other personal considerations; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage the families of the church to conduct parent-child relationships in accordance with God’s commands for children and parents.
RESOLUTION NO. 3
On Affirming the Move of the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
WHEREAS, The nation of Israel, reborn in 1948, has historically claimed Jerusalem as its capital; and
WHEREAS, Israel is an established Jewish state that protects not only the holy sites of Jews but also those of Christians and of Muslims within its borders; and
WHEREAS, Judaism, the official religious faith of Israel, recognizes Jerusalem as the center of life for the Jewish people; and
WHEREAS, God declared to King David, “But I have chosen Jerusalem so that my name will be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel” (2 Chronicles 6:6, CSB); and
WHEREAS, Christians acknowledge that our faith in the one true God, the Holy Scriptures and our Savior all came to us through the Jewish people; and
WHEREAS, Jews, Christians and Muslims all freely gather for worship in the city of Jerusalem; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, Congress passed the U.S. Jerusalem Embassy Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, encoding in federal law the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and requiring the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem; and
WHEREAS, On May 11, 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Israel opened in Jerusalem; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Trussville, Alabama, November 13-14, 2018, do affirm and celebrate the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
RESOLUTION NO. 4
On Gratitude for the Life of David Potts
WHEREAS, Dr. David E. Potts served for 28 years (1990-2018) as president of Judson College; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts stood faithfully for Christian education in an academic world that continually trends toward secularism; and
WHEREAS, The impact of his high standard of excellent curriculum was evidenced in the achievements of Judson graduates as they successfully made their marks in the marketplace of life; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts steadfastly affirmed the contributions of women to answer the surging problems of a society that remains in desperate need of right solutions; and
WHEREAS, Under his leadership the college grew in academic programs, saw many improvements in its physical plant and experienced substantial growth in the college’s endowment; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts was a tireless advocate for people living in poverty, especially those who make their home in Alabama’s Black Belt; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts, out of a Great Commission mindset, established in 2005 a program known as Faith-Based Service and Learning that took students out of the classroom and involved them in opportunities of ministry in Perry County and throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, During the past 11 years, more than 80 percent of Judson students voluntarily participated in community service through this effort; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts’s life exemplified the Judson Alma Mater’s call to “live for service” and “send forth blessed light”; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts was a faithful supporter of missions through the Cooperative Program; and
WHEREAS, Resisting the educational movement to discard traditional values, Dr. Potts maintained a firmness of Christian character and leadership in applying the principles of the Alabama Baptist State Convention to a Judson College steeped in the foundation of Alabama Baptists; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Potts passed away peacefully at home on March 28, 2018, survived by his wife, Nora Beth Bloodworth Potts, two daughters, a sister and eight grandchildren; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Trussville, Alabama, November 13-14, 2018, gratefully acknowledge Dr. Potts’s achievements and join the heavenly echo: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23a, CSB); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express love and prayer support to the Potts family; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we are grateful to our Lord for the life of Dr. David E. Potts, which was characterized by kindness, wisdom and love for God and people, having led Judson College to offer, as its motto states: “knowledge and faith for a purposeful life.”
RESOLUTION NO. 5
On Appreciation for Bobby S. “Bob” Terry
WHEREAS, Dr. Bobby S. “Bob” Terry, a native of Decatur, Alabama, was elected to serve as editor of The Alabama Baptist in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Terry will retire December 31, 2018, after 50 years in Southern Baptist newspaper ministry and 23 years of leading The Alabama Baptist, and will serve as the publication’s first editor emeritus; and
WHEREAS, He has led The Alabama Baptist to be named among the top Christian newspapers for his whole tenure, and he led it to receive more than 200 awards for editorials, features, design and news stories; and
WHEREAS, He has used his influence to make an impact on social issues in Alabama, the nation and the world, including lobbying to end global hunger and helping to defeat a lottery bill that would have been detrimental to Alabama families; and
WHEREAS, He was a faithful and active participant in the ministry of state Baptist newspapers, serving first as associate editor of the Western Recorder in Kentucky for seven years, then editor of Missouri’s Word & Way for 20 years before coming to The Alabama Baptist; and
WHEREAS, His legacy will continue to Alabama Baptist students through endowed scholarships established in his honor at Samford University and the University of Mobile; and
WHEREAS, He had the faithful support of his late wife, Eleanor Foster Terry, who went to be with the Lord from injuries suffered in an automobile accident in 1998; and
WHEREAS, He has the loving encouragement of his wife, Pat Hart Terry, who has ministered faithfully with him since their marriage in March 2002; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Trussville, Alabama, November 13-14, 2018, express gratitude to God for Dr. Terry; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we call upon all Alabama Baptists to pray for God’s continued blessings and guidance upon Bob and Pat Terry in their new season of ministry, as well as the continued ministry of The Alabama Baptist.
RESOLUTION NO. 6
On Appreciation
WHEREAS, The messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention have enjoyed a time of encouragement, cooperation and fellowship; and
WHEREAS, We acknowledge the Lord’s providence for all those blessings; and
WHEREAS, We have felt the presence of God during the proceedings of this Convention; and
WHEREAS, We especially thank Pastor Buddy Champion and First Baptist Church Trussville for the use of their facilities, services of every kind and their support and hospitality; and
WHEREAS, We especially acknowledge the work and leadership of our president, John Thweatt, vice-presidents, Tim Cox and Buddy Champion, the other officers, various committees, Convention speakers, musicians, and other platform personnel to conduct the affairs of this Convention with a Christ-like spirit; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Trussville, Alabama, November 13-14, 2018, express our profound gratitude to the Lord and to those whom He used to bring about a Convention characterized by God’s blessings.
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by Dogwood