Officers of the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) are calling state Baptists to a day of prayer about tax reform Sept. 7. The day of prayer falls two days prior to the referendum concerning the proposed tax plan being advocated by Gov. Bob Riley.
“This important issue deserves the prayerful attention of Alabama Baptists as we, along with our fellow citizens, exercise the right to vote our convictions concerning the proposal,” the officers said in a statement July 25.
Emphasizing that the state convention is not taking a stand on either side of the issue, Joe Godfrey, president of the ABSC, said, “Certainly, Alabama Baptists comprise the largest bloc of voters in [the state]. We certainly need to be involved in issues we face as a state and nation.
“Because no one person can speak for all Baptists, we are encouraging Baptists to seek God’s will in this matter through prayer,” said Godfrey, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove. “We certainly need to do the right thing, and we need to leave that up to the Lord. He will lead His people to do the right thing (if they seek His will).”
Henry Cox, first vice president of the ABSC, agreed. He said if Alabama Baptists will “seek the Lord’s guidance and study the proposal carefully … the right thing will happen … even if we don’t know what the right thing is.”
Noting the diverse opinions existing on the issue, Cox, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bay Minette, said, “We pride ourselves as Alabama Baptists as having unity in the midst of diversity. And a call to prayer will emphasize unity.”
Roger Willmore, second vice president, noted that the extreme differences of opinion about the tax issue are “all the more reason for us all to seek the face of God about the matter.”
The day of prayer about the tax issue says to the watching world that “we acknowledge we are dealing with a very complex issue,” said Willmore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Boaz. “I hope it is seen as a testimony to seek wisdom beyond our own — to seek God’s wisdom.”
After all, Willmore said, any time Christ faced a major decision He spent a long time in prayer.
“You would find Him on a mountain or out in a desert in prayer,” Willmore said. “I hope it’s an indication that every time we face decisions, especially major decisions, that we would move out of routine prayer and go to a new level.”
Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program, commended the ABSC officers for encouraging the day of prayer. “The church leaders owe it to themselves and to their church members to be prayerful about this issue,” said Ireland.
“This is the first opportunity since the 1901 Constitution (was adopted) for us to give our opinion about tax reform. It is one of the most challenging decisions the voters have participated in,” he said, noting voters should weigh all the evidence and be educated as they seek God’s direction.
Ireland, who is encouraging all denominations to participate in the day of prayer, said Methodists, Lutherans and Episcopalians have also committed to pray that day.
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