A resolution urging Congress to delete hate crimes legislation from the current defense bill passed with the full support of Alabama Baptist messengers attending the state convention annual meeting in Mobile Nov. 13–14. The resolution was one of seven approved without discussion.
The resolution on hate crimes legislation stated that its aim was to protect the First Amendment right of ministers “to preach and speak biblical truths” about God’s views on “homosexual activities.”
Through the statement, Alabama Baptists urge Congress to remove the hate crimes section from H.R. 1585 — the Defense Authorization Act — and President George W. Bush to veto the bill should it pass Congress as is.
The six other resolutions passed during the annual meeting were:
- On preventing child abuse
- On Sunday liquor sales
- On Indian gambling
- On the 300th anniversary of Baptist associations in America
- On the Cooperative Program
- On appreciation
Three other resolutions were submitted but not passed out of committee. They were:
- On praying for rain
A resolution was submitted by Tom Belcher, pastor of Millport Baptist Church, calling for the state convention to pray for rain. Instead of presenting the resolution for a messenger vote, however, the Resolutions Committee asked Belcher to offer a prayer for rain during the session. The following day, rain moved across the state.
- On Bibles in hotel rooms
Joe Godfrey, chairman of the Resolutions Committee, said information was submitted Tuesday morning for a possible resolution regarding hotels providing sex kits and/or condoms in their rooms but not providing Bibles. He explained to messengers, however, that more information was needed before a resolution could be properly drafted.
There was not enough time for it to be prepared and presented this year, Godfrey said, noting it could certainly be resubmitted next year. “If messengers can submit resolutions in advance, this is one of the reasons it is helpful to do so — it allows us time to prepare them for presentation,” he said later in an interview with The Alabama Baptist.
- On same-sex “marriage” and the federal marriage amendment
The committee decided that this topic had been dealt with thoroughly during the past three conventions.
In all, 10 resolutions were considered by the Resolutions Committee. Four came from messengers. The others originated with the committee.
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