RESOLUTION NO. 1
ON APPRECIATION FOR THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE
WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13,16; Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 44:24; Galatians 1:15; Job 33:4); and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 and adopted by the Alabama Baptist State Convention in 2014 states, “We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death;” and
WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists, assembled in annual meetings, have repeatedly called for protection of unborn life; and
WHEREAS, On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court, in the Roe v. Wade decision, declared invalid laws of all 50 states which limited or prohibited abortion; and
WHEREAS, On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision and declared that states had the right to protect the unborn by limiting or prohibiting abortion; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, November 15-16, 2022, offer thanks and praise to God for turning hearts on the issue of protecting innocent human life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we give thanks for the overturning of the ill-conceived Roe v. Wade decision; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage the Alabama legislature and Governor Kay Ivey to hold firm in defending the 2019 Alabama Human Life Protection Act; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage all honorable efforts to abolish abortion from our state and our beloved country.
RESOLUTION NO. 2
ON COMMENDATION OF THE ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMES & FAMILY MINISTRIES IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE
WHEREAS, Alabama Baptists are unapologetically pro-life, believing that life begins at conception and that the unborn and the born must be defended (Psalm 139:13-14); and
WHEREAS, We applaud the decision of the Supreme Court to revisit the idea that abortion is a Constitutional right and agree with their ruling that the Constitution does not guarantee such a right; and
WHEREAS, As followers of Christ, we believe that we are called to care for the unborn and for the mothers of unborn children (Psalm 68: 5-6, Isaiah 1:17, James 1:27); and
WHEREAS, In the post-Roe climate, we expect to see an increase in demand for foster care services, and Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries (ABCH) is preparing for growth in their foster care ministry and anticipating serving more than 1,000 children per year by 2031; and
WHEREAS, ABCH anticipates increased giving and volunteer support among Alabama Baptists; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That ABCH and the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) will work in close cooperation in assisting churches with responding to the plight of pregnant mothers and their children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That ABCH and the SBOM will emphasize the need for an increased number of Alabama Baptists serving as foster parents (Matthew 25:40); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we commend ABCH as it continues to work toward restoration of biological families whenever possible, and, in cases where it is determined to not be possible by the judicial system, ABCH will seek adoptive homes for children who, through no fault of their own, are not able to live with biological relatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we also commend ABCH’s plan for its Family Care Homes to be open to accepting referrals for pregnant mothers who are electing to carry their children to full-term and working with them as they make decisions after the child is born; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we express appreciation for ABCH’s counseling ministry, Pathways Professional Counseling, the leader in providing professional counseling from a Christian perspective across the state, as it stands ready to serve a wide range of clients, including pregnant women, as they choose the best next steps for themselves and their children.
RESOLUTION NO. 3
ON CALLING FOR REPEAL OF LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN ALABAMA
WHEREAS, The 2021 Alabama Legislature passed Act #2021-450, codified at §20-2A-8, et seq., 1975 Code of Alabama, which provides for the legal dispensing of cannabis (marijuana) in Alabama for medical reasons; and
WHEREAS, The Act would permit the licensure and regulation of the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of medical cannabis; and
WHEREAS, The Act provides for an intrastate system for carrying out the purposes of the Act through licensing cannabis dispensaries in cities and towns that pass a resolution or act permitting such dispensary; and
WHEREAS, There exists insufficient evidence that medical cannabis is an effective medication; and
WHEREAS, The use of cannabis as provided in the Act is a federally scheduled and prohibited controlled substance, and is not FDA approved for medical use; and
WHEREAS, Cannabis (marijuana) remains an unlawful controlled substance according to the laws of the state of Alabama, except as provided in the Act; and
WHEREAS, Cannabis is legal for recreational use in 36 states, many of which first legalized medical cannabis as a stepping stone to this broader use; and
WHEREAS, Marijuana is a mind-altering drug which creates many risks, including but not limited to, drug experimentation leading to other drug uses such as opioids and cocaine, impaired mental and physical abilities, increase of health risks for pregnant women, unborn, and young children, and causes mental health issues, depression, suicide, and vehicle accidents; and
WHEREAS, The use of medical cannabis is opposed by leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Heart Association, and others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, November 15-16, 2022, request that the Alabama Legislature in its 2023 Regular Session, repeal Act #2021-450, codified at §20-2A-8, et seq., 1975 Code of Alabama; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That each city and county in the state of Alabama refuse to pass resolutions permitting the opening of medical cannabis dispensaries within their jurisdictions and to otherwise close such dispensaries that may have been opened while the Act is in effect.
RESOLUTION NO. 4
IN SUPPORT OF THE VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION AND PROTECTION ACT
WHEREAS, God “created them male and female and blessed them” Genesis 5:2 (NIV); and
WHEREAS, Human beings are born naturally and biologically only as male and female; and
WHEREAS, In recent years there has been a growing trend for minors to be dissatisfied with their biological sex; and
WHEREAS, Sexual freedom advocates have supported this trend and some health professionals have advocated sex changes in varying degrees; and
WHEREAS, Parents feel that they must acquiesce to children’s demands, believing it medically appropriate or necessary; and
WHEREAS, While these procedures first gained popularity in Western Europe, there has been a growing body of medical evidence that the procedures are not in the best interest of minors and healthcare professionals have reconsidered their positions; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, the trend in support of sex change operations in minors continues to grow, notwithstanding the mounting evidence that the earlier positions are not properly medically supported; and
WHEREAS, Sex change is not truly possible, but procedures attempting to change a person’s sex, in varying degrees, will have lasting detrimental effects and if followed will become irreversible; and
WHEREAS, Those persons who follow the sex change procedures will become permanent patients who will require continuing medical and psychological treatment throughout their lives; and
WHEREAS, In response to this, the Alabama Legislature in its 2022 Regular Session passed the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, §§26-26-1, et sequel, 1975 Code of Alabama, which prohibits sex change procedures, both medical and surgical, on minor children; and
WHEREAS, The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reserves to the states regulation of healthcare; and
WHEREAS, While parents have the primary right to make decisions for their minor children, those decisions must be grounded in proper medical evidence, which in this situation does not exist; and
WHEREAS, After passage of VCAP, private plaintiffs and the Biden Administration Department of Justice filed a lawsuit contesting the constitutionality of VCAP, which after a preliminary hearing the surgical procedures were enjoined, but hormonal and drug procedures were allowed, until there is a final hearing on the merits to be held in the near future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, November 15-16, 2022, voice their support of the Alabama Legislature and its passage of VCAP; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the efforts of Attorney General Steve Marshall and his staff to defend the law are encouraged and supported; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the State of Alabama take all appropriate measures to protect and enforce VCAP; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That appropriate and wise medical, psychological, and spiritual counsel be determined to protect minors from improper and unnecessary life-changing medical procedures and to provide support for them, their parents, and their families.
RESOLUTION NO. 5
ON REAFFIRMATION OF 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 Birmingham, Alabama, November 15-16, 2022, 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 and 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 Alabama Baptist churches encourage and admonish families to prioritize the Lord’s Day gathering over any secular pursuits; 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, even in the regrettable situation of divorce, 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. 6
ON APPRECIATION TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE TASK FORCE
WHEREAS, Messengers to the 2021 Annual Meeting adopted a motion that the State Convention president would appoint members to a Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF); and
WHEREAS, The SATF was tasked by the messengers “to review the policies and practices of our Cooperative Program-funded state convention entities and auxiliaries, including the State Board of Missions, related to sex abuse;” and
WHEREAS, State Convention President Buddy Champion appointed these as SATF members:
–Chair: Craig Carlisle, director of missions, Etowah Baptist Association, Gadsden
–Vice Chair: Melissa Bowen, retired attorney, Prattville
–Daniel Atkins, senior pastor, Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery
–Kaye Farrow, licensed marriage and family therapist, retired, Birmingham
–D’Linell Finley, senior pastor, Southlawn Baptist Church, Montgomery
–Abigail Jackson, public relations specialist, Homewood
–Blake Kersey, lead pastor, First Baptist Church, Decatur
–Daven Watkins, senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Pelham
WHEREAS, All members along with President Champion, who was an ex-officio member, faithfully participated during the SATF meetings; and
WHEREAS, Members of the SATF were thorough and diligent in meeting with leadership of all Alabama Baptist entities and ministries, providing opportune moments of accountability for these that receive financial support through the Cooperative Program:
–Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM)
–Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries
–Alabama Baptist Historical Commission
–Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers
–Shocco Springs Conference Center
–The Alabama Baptist
–The Baptist Foundation of Alabama
–University of Mobile
–Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union
–Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP)
WHEREAS, During 2022, 100 percent of SBOM staff and Alabama WMU staff have completed MinistrySafe Awareness Training; and
WHEREAS, For all camps and events for children and youth in 2022 that were sponsored by the SBOM and Alabama WMU, all 150 volunteers enlisted to work in those events were required to complete MinistrySafe training; and
WHEREAS, More than 1,300 Alabama Baptist church leaders have been trained during statewide MinistrySafe events during the past several years; and
WHEREAS, The annual cost for a church to join MinistrySafe is $250 for which the SBOM provides a $200 scholarship during the first year; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, November 15-16, 2022, thank the members of the Sexual Abuse Task Force for their sacrificial gift of time in service to Alabama Baptists; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we commend Alabama Baptist entities and local churches as they protect the vulnerable by making sure their facilities are safe spaces for all as we seek to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
RESOLUTION NO. 7
ON APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, Messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention have convened at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 15-16, 2022, for an important time of business, fellowship, and worship; and
WHEREAS, We acknowledge our debt of gratitude to the churches, leaders, and volunteers of the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association for the many courtesies, services, and accommodations that have made our stay a pleasant one; and
WHEREAS, The president, officers, various committees, convention speakers, musicians, and other platform personalities have guided the affairs of this Convention with dignity and a Christlike spirit; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, November 15-16, 2022, express our profound gratitude to all whose efforts have contributed to the gracious spirit, evangelistic impact, and overall effectiveness of this annual meeting.
