Alabama Baptists approved resolutions dealing with marriage, military chaplains and disaster relief during the Nov. 16–17 annual meeting of the state convention in Montgomery.
Messengers also approved resolutions on partnering with schools and expressing appreciation for the convention organizers.
-The Resolution on Marriage Protection Amendment affirms that Alabama Baptists believe “biblical and legal marriage is between one man and one woman” and “the only marriage ordained of God.”
The resolution calls for the United Staates Congress and the Alabama Legislature to pass constitutional amendments requiring marriage to be between a man and a woman.
-The Resolution on Military Chaplains in Combat affirms “[Baptist] military chaplains from Alabama now serving in combat areas.”
The resolution calls on all Alabama Baptists “to pray for our military chaplains, military personnel and their families, as well as those families who have lost loved ones in military service.”
-The Resolution on Disaster Relief expressed appreciation to the volunteers, churches, associations, Southern Baptist leaders, state Baptist leaders, Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center and federal agencies for their efforts in disaster relief following Hurricane Ivan.
The resolution also states a specific thanks to Tommy Puckett, who oversees disaster relief work for Alabama Baptists, for his work and commends all who have contributed financially to relief efforts.
-The Resolution on Partners in Education affirms Alabama Baptists’ support of education and affirms actions by local churches, associations and individual believers to partner with schools.
-The Resolution on Appreciation expressed thanks to Eastmont Baptist Church, Montgomery, for hosting the state convention and offered gratitude to all who worked to make the convention happen.
The five resolutions reported out of the resolutions committee were approved without debate.
Travis Coleman, who served as resolutions committee chairman, said the work of the committee went smoothly with all submitted resolutions coming prior to the convention.
No resolutions were submitted during the convention, Coleman said, which gave the committee more time to work on final drafts.
Three of the five resolutions approved were topics submitted from messengers. The other two resolutions — on disaster relief and on appreciation for convention organizers — came from the committee, said Coleman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Prattville.
Two resolutions were submitted on the marriage protection amendment, so those were reworked and “mingled together,” Coleman said.
The military chaplains and partners in education resolutions were also reorganized and edited for the best verbiage, he added.
All topics submitted as resolutions were approved. No topics were ruled out of order.
In miscellaneous business only one item was brought to the floor, but it was ruled out of order.
The motion — made by Timothy Davis of Gallion Baptist Church in Hale Association — called for Alabama Baptist entities to stipulate the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) as its sole member.
The committee on order of business ruled the motion out of order based on Article 3 of the state convention bylaws, which states that requests for charter changes can come only from entity trustees.
“The motion asked the convention to overstep its role,” said outgoing ABSC President Joe Godfrey. (TAB)
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