Alabama Baptists pass resolutions on Wal-Mart, Sudan

Wal-Mart’s support of homosexuality, the humanitarian crisis in western Sudan and ethics in state government surfaced as some of the top issues that touched a nerve with state Baptists this year.
   
The three issues headlined a collection of 11 resolutions passed by state Baptists at the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting, held Nov. 14–15 at Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover.
   
According to the Resolution on Wal-Mart, Baptists should inform Wal-Mart at the local and national level of its breech of Baptists’ beliefs on homosexuality by joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and ask it to reconsider the move. 
   
It also calls for Baptists to pray for the store’s key leaders to “conduct their business in accordance with biblical principles.”
   
The Resolution on the Conflict in Western Sudan also called for Baptists to pray for the suffering people of the African nation’s Darfur region, as well as offer advocacy and humanitarian aid on their behalf.
   
The Resolution on Ethics in Government came on the heels of public announcements that “investigations are currently underway into alleged incidents of public officials using their positions in inappropriate ways.”
   
The resolution urged messengers to call on the branches of state government to ensure that officials cannot use their power for personal or private gain.
   
It also urged Baptists to pray for state leaders.
   
Messengers affirmed the three resolutions with no discussion, as well as eight others:
    • A resolution expressing appreciation to Alabama voters and the Alabama Legislature for the passing of the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment, which defines marriage as one man and one woman.
    • A resolution commending the Alabama Legislature for passing the Brody Act to protect unborn victims of crime.
    • A resolution discouraging alcohol use on the basis of biblical warnings against dangers associated with it, as well as its negative impact on Alabama Baptist churches and families.
    • A resolution discouraging tobacco use because of its toll on the physical and mental well-being of state Baptists.
    • A resolution reaffirming support of the Cooperative Program (CP), expressing appreciation for the churches in the state that support missions through the CP and encouraging churches to increase their percentage of budget funds given through the CP.
    • A resolution expressing appreciation to Frances Dew Hamilton, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, who is retiring Dec. 31, for her years of service to state Baptists.
    • A resolution affirming support for language missions and the state convention’s 58 congregations that speak a language other than English, such as Spanish, Vietnamese or Korean and including deaf churches that use sign language to communicate.
    • A resolution on appreciation to Hunter Street Baptist for hosting the convention and for all who assisted with the convention activities, to Birmingham Baptist Association and its work to make the meeting a success and to the leadership of Henry Cox, Roger Willmore and Jimmy Jackson.
   
It also offered thanks to the Lord for a convention “characterized by grace and evangelism.”
   
The Resolutions Committee received a 12th resolution on education but chose not to present it because a similar one was passed at the 2004 annual meeting, according to Scott Guffin, chair of the committee and pastor of Liberty Park Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills. 
   
The 2004 resolution on partners in education affirmed Alabama Baptists’ support of education as well as actions by local churches, associations and individual believers to develop partnerships with schools.