2021 Resolutions

RESOLUTION NO. 1

ON AFFIRMATION OF JUDSON COLLEGE

WHEREAS, Members of the congregation of Siloam Baptist Church were instrumental in the founding of Judson College in 1838 in Marion, Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Since 1843, as an Alabama Baptist entity, Judson has been a member of our State Convention family; and

WHEREAS, For 183 years, Judson College stood “like a beacon on a hilltop, burning brightly through the night” fulfilling her mission of helping young women develop their God-given abilities and talents, equipping them to make intelligent choices, and encouraging them to spend their lives serving God and improving society; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her history, Judson has educated women in the humanities, social sciences, natural and physical sciences, education, and fine arts; and

WHEREAS, Judson graduates have achieved success in concert halls, graduate educational institutions, homemaking and community service, hospitals, social services, scientific research facilities, law offices, corporations, government service, education and church-related vocations; and

WHEREAS, Judson graduates were among the first to take Christianity to China, to serve the North American Mission Board and to carry the Gospel to Japan; and

WHEREAS, Past and current leadership sought through fervent prayer and other valiant efforts to sustain Judson College as an institution of Christian higher education; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, November 16-17, 2021, commend Judson College for having kept the faith regarding her mission of Christian higher education for women; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we affirm Judson for having been a vessel through which God called students to His service and that we as Alabama Baptists continue to celebrate her rich legacy; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commit to pray for Judson alumnae who will continue to serve God for many decades to come as they glorify God and share His love and serve others across the United States and around the world.

RESOLUTION NO. 2

ON PROTECTING UNBORN CHILDREN BY PRIORITIZING LEGISLATION

WHEREAS, Biblical revelation clearly and constantly affirms that human life is formed by God in His image and is therefore worthy of honor and dignity (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6); and

WHEREAS, God alone is the author of life and He alone numbers our days, from the moment of conception until natural death (Job 14:5-7; Psalm 39:4); and

WHEREAS, There has been a continuing trend of abortions of unborn children because of discrimination based on their sex, race, and/or genetic disability; and

WHEREAS, Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to make it state policy to “recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life” and to state that no provisions of the constitution provide a right to an abortion or require funding of abortions; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 has recognized the right to life of the unborn; and

WHEREAS, The 2021 Alabama Legislature passed and Governor Ivey signed legislation to protect those babies who survived abortion; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, November 16-17, 2021, encourage the Alabama Legislature to prioritize passing legislation to abolish abortion; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Alabama Legislature prioritize protecting unborn children from discrimination based on their sex, race, and/or genetic disability; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Alabama Legislature prioritize passing legislation to prohibit public funding of abortion, whether direct or indirect; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our goal of ending the destruction of human life through abortion.

RESOLUTION NO. 3

ON SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE

CONCERNING RACIAL AND INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS

WHEREAS, God loves all people and all nations, perfectly and supremely demonstrated through the atoning sacrifice of His Son on Calvary; and

WHEREAS, We acknowledge that salvation through Christ has accomplished the tearing down of the “dividing wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14) and that we as believers are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28); and

WHEREAS, We know that the only way for us to improve intercultural relationships is through transformed hearts of believers who have become a “new creation” and been given the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18); and

WHEREAS, We must, as Scripture commands, demonstrate our love and acceptance of others as mandated by the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:35-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8) and as exemplified on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2); and

WHEREAS, Alabama Baptist churches should be a people of God who offer proclamation of the Gospel, worship, fellowship and ministry for all in local communities without regard to cultural and racial backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists should be on mission to reach all people because we continue to anchor ourselves in the authority and sufficiency of Scripture as being “truth, without any mixture of error” and “totally true and trustworthy” (Baptist Faith & Message 2000, Article 1); and

WHEREAS, We understand that we are to be people of Biblical justice and Biblical righteousness as both the Old and New Testaments admonish us; and

WHEREAS, With deep sorrow, we continue to lament any action of injustice toward others; and

WHEREAS, We will not embrace any theory, including Critical Race Theory or any theory of racial supremacy, that is inconsistent with our understanding of Scripture; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, November 16-17, 2021, acknowledge that the sin of racism continues to exist; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we continue to affirm our absolute belief in God’s love for all people regardless of culture or race; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we continue to condemn the sin of racism in any form; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we continue to strive for engagement with and improvement of intercultural relations with persons of all racial and cultural backgrounds as we share the Gospel and minister in Christ’s name.

RESOLUTION NO. 4

ON AFFIRMATION OF JOE GODFREY

WHEREAS, Joe Godfrey is a native of Rome, Georgia, and earned a bachelor of arts degree from Samford University, a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Godfrey received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Judson College in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Godfrey pastored churches in Alabama for 26-1/2 years and served for two years as president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention; and

WHEREAS, In April 2007, he was selected by the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) Board to succeed Dr. Dan Ireland and began serving as associate executive director from April 2007 until May 2008; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Godfrey began his tenure as executive director in June 2008; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Godfrey’s duties with ALCAP include being a voice for Alabama Baptists and other faith communities in the Alabama Legislature, serving as their missionary in the Alabama State House as well as lobbying the Alabama Legislature concerning moral issues, particularly those related to addictive behaviors, such as alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling; and consulting with communities that are fighting wet-dry elections or gambling expansion; and

WHEREAS, His responsibilities related to American Character Builders include fund-raising and oversight of the program and staff; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Godfrey has stood strong at the ALCAP helm with commitment to keep it as “Alabama’s moral compass”; and

WHEREAS, He produced a video series, “The Forgotten Command,” designed to help Christ’s followers discover how to become “salt and light” and make a difference in today’s culture; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention, meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, November 16-17, 2021, commend Dr. Joe Godfrey for his tenure with ALCAP, which has been marked with excellence and unswerving commitment to Biblical values and convictions; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we express appreciation for the many years of faithful ministry by Joe and Joy Godfrey and that we will pray for them as they enter this next, new phase of serving our Lord.

RESOLUTION NO. 5

ON APPRECIATION

WHEREAS, The messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention are enjoying a time of encouragement, worship, inspiration, and the Spirit’s direction; and

WHEREAS, The theme of this year’s annual State Convention is “ChristCentered”; and

WHEREAS, We thank God for the positive leadership of our president, Tim Cox, and vice presidents Buddy Champion and Morgan Bailey, along with other officers of the Convention; and

WHEREAS, We acknowledge the Lord’s presence and blessings on our Convention; and

WHEREAS, We appreciate the Madison Baptist Association, the area churches, and the ministers of those churches having played a significant role in making this Convention a success; and

WHEREAS, We especially thank Whitesburg Baptist Church for the use of their facilities, services of every kind, and their support and hospitality; and

WHEREAS, We express gratitude for the various committees, Convention speakers, musicians, and other platform personalities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, November 16-17, 2021, express our profound gratitude to God and to those whom He used to bring about Convention sessions characterized by God’s leadership.