NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Baptist Press is live blogging the SBC annual meeting in New Orleans. Up-to-the-minute updates can be read here, at our Twitter account (Twitter.com/BaptistPress), or Facebook account (Facebook.com/BaptistPress). Want more updates? Follow our SBC annual meeting feed at Twitter.com/SBCMeeting. A schedule of the Wednesday meeting can be found at http://bit.ly/MFGa6x. Watch the SBC annual meeting live at http://bit.ly/jbcL6c.
Updated 12:15 p.m., June 21, with additional paragraphs that were inadvertently omitted in resolutions.
All times CST
5:57 p.m. — The SBC annual meeting ends, meaning Fred Luter officially is SBC president. Next year’s meeting will be held in Houston.
5:42 p.m. — The North American Mission Board delivered its report this afternoon, with its president, Kevin Ezell, encouraging churches to launch a church planting effort. In 1900, he said, Southern Baptists had one church for every 3,800 people in the U.S. But today, he said, it’s one church for every 6,100 people.
In some states in the Northeast, Midwest and the Northwest, there is only one Southern Baptist church for every 20,000-plus people, he said. In Canada, it’s one in 117,000, he said. By comparison, the ratio in the South is one in less than 10,000.
“Church planting is an evangelistic strategy,” Ezell said.
NAMB has a goal for Southern Baptists to plant a net of 5,000 new churches by 2022, Ezell said. When including churches that die each year, that means Southern Baptists must plant 13,500 new churches.
“We will never be able to plant that many churches unless God does a work in His people,” Ezell said.
Messengers also heard from a church planter and from an SBC chaplain.
5:01 p.m. — The North American Mission Board report has begun.
4:20 p.m. — Messengers moment ago passed six resolutions, including one on “Cooperation and the Doctrine of Salvation” and another on gay marriage and civil rights rhetoric. All resolutions passed overwhelmingly.
Following is the full text of the resolutions on gay marriage and the doctrine of salvation:
ON “SAME-SEX MARRIAGE” AND CIVIL RIGHTS RHETORIC
WHEREAS, Marriage is a covenant relationship and an institution established by God rather than simply a human social construct (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Ephesians 5:22–33); and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have consistently affirmed our support of the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures indicate that all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful; and
WHEREAS, All people, regardless of race or sexual orientation, are created in the image of God and thus are due respect and love (Genesis 1:26–27); and
WHEREAS, The Department of Justice has argued (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional claiming that DOMA unfairly discriminates against homosexuals; and
WHEREAS, For the first time in history the President of the United States has publicly voiced his personal support of “same-sex marriage”; and
WHEREAS, While homosexuality does not present the distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections, like the classes of race and gender, we acknowledge the unique struggles experienced by homosexuals in some parts of society; and
WHEREAS, It is regrettable that homosexual rights activists and those who are promoting the recognition of “same-sex marriage” have misappropriated the rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, oppose any attempt to frame “same-sex marriage” as a civil rights issue; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we deny that the effort to legalize “same-sex marriage” qualifies as a civil rights issue since homosexuality does not qualify as a class meriting special protections, like race and gender; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage Southern Baptists everywhere to fight for the civil rights of all people where such rights are consistent with the righteousness of God; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our love to those who struggle with same-sex attraction and who are engaged in the homosexual lifestyle; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we stand against any form of gay-bashing, whether disrespectful attitudes, hateful rhetoric, or hate-incited actions toward persons who engage in acts of homosexuality; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm that pastors should preach the truth of God’s word on human sexuality, marriage, purity, and love with all boldness and without fear of reprisal; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we proclaim that Christ offers forgiveness of sin for those who turn from their sins and believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
ON COOPERATION AND THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
WHEREAS, We celebrate the history of faithful cooperation of Southern Baptists in the work of world evangelism and missions; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message has been approved by our Convention as our confession of faith regarding our commonly held convictions; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message in its affirmation of local church autonomy does not define what individual Southern Baptists and Southern Baptist churches must believe but rather what they generally and historically have believed regarding the doctrine of salvation; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2007 affirmed The Baptist Faith and Message as a consensus confession, but not a comprehensive confession, seeking to unify Southern Baptists, local churches, and other Baptist bodies that may also hold other confessions of faith; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, do without reservation reaffirm as our confession of faith The Baptist Faith and Message; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm that The Baptist Faith and Message provides sufficient parameters for understanding the doctrine of salvation, so that Southern Baptists may joyfully and enthusiastically partner together in obedience to the Great Commission; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage all Southern Baptist churches to continue in faithful cooperation as we deepen our commitment to equip the saints and reach the lost with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3:57 p.m. — “Platform mic” motion overwhelmingly defeated.
3:53 p.m. — Messengers debating motion that would prohibit nominating speeches from platform mic and prohibit anyone speaking in support of/opposition to motions from platform mic. Motion apparently would apply only to this meeting, but is receiving quite a bit of debate.
3:23 p.m. — Daniel Akin to deliver 2013 convention sermon. Messengers approve recommendation by Committee on Order of Business.
3:21 p.m. — New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu addresses messengers, talks about Luter’s Katrina leadership. “You could not have made a better choice,” he said. Gives Luter key to the city.
3:08 p.m. — The afternoon session has begun.
2:50 p.m. — The afternoon session of the annual meeting will begin at 3 p.m. Among the afternoon’s highlights, messengers are scheduled to vote on six resolutions at 4:05, and NAMB will present its report at 5:05.
11:55 a.m. — The morning session has concluded. The afternoon session will begin at 3 p.m.
11:48 a.m. — David Uth, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., preached the convention sermon, using Luke 7:36-50 as his text — the story of Jesus’ feet being anointed by a sinful woman.
Uth said Southern Baptists must model Jesus’ compassion for sinners, as seen in the text.
As an illustration, Uth recounted a personal story that took place when the SBC annual meeting last was held in New Orleans, in 2001. Uth was in the back of a taxi, on his way to the Superdome for the annual meeting, when the cab driver asked him if it was OK if the driver let another person in the backseat. Uth said it was OK, and the driver stopped to pick up the passenger. It turned out to be a prostitute named “Candy.”
Uth’s first reaction, he said, was embarrassment. He wanted all the stoplights to be green so that he could get there faster. He also was hoping that when the taxi arrived at the Superdome, no other pastors would see him get out of the car. That, though, would not have been Jesus’ reaction, he said.
Uth said he was not concerned about her eternal security, a reaction he regrets.
“I was concerned about me,” he said.
11:15 a.m. — David Uth is preaching the convention sermon. Click the link above to watch it.
10:28 a.m. — John Yeats re-elected recording secretary, Jim Wells re-elected registration secretary. Each unopposed.
10:20 a.m. — Dave Miller elected SBC 2nd VP in runoff, receiving 59.5 percent of vote to Eric Hankins’ 39.5 percent.
10:19 a.m. — The Committee on Resolutions’ scheduled time has passed, with only three resolutions having been debated (sinner’s prayer, On Appreciation, On 200 Years of Baptist Ministry in Louisiana). All passed. The other six resolutions will be considered at 4:05 p.m. See full text of resolutions below.
10:18 a.m. — Resolution on sinner’s prayer passes after debate. See full text below. By a show of ballots, perhaps 10-20 percent of messengers voted against it.
9:44 a.m. — Meeting is running 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Resolutions committee presenting its report now.
8:15 a.m. — Committee on Order of Business schedules floor debate for today at 3:20 for motion about limits on use of platform microphone.
8:14 a.m. — Messengers approve “Great Commission Baptists” descriptor, 53-46 percent. Our February story: http://ow.ly/bGXU0
7:50 a.m. — Messengers this morning will consider nine resolutions. Among them are a resolution concerning the sinner’s prayer, a resolution on cooperation and the doctrine of salvation, and a resolution on gay marriage and the civil rights rhetoric. Following is the text of those three resolutions, along with four others.
AN AFFIRMATION OF A “SINNER’S PRAYER” AS A BIBLICAL EXPRESSION OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH
WHEREAS, The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers full forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God to anyone who repents of sin and trusts in Christ; and
WHEREAS, This same Gospel commands all persons everywhere to believe this Gospel and receive Christ as Savior and Lord (Mark 1:15; John 1:12; 6:25–52; Acts 17:30); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures give examples of persons from diverse backgrounds who cried out for mercy and were heard by God (Luke 18:13; Acts 16:29–30); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures also give numerous examples of per- sons who verbally affirmed Gospel truths but who did not personally know Jesus in a saving relationship (Luke 22:47–48; John 2:23–25; 1 Corinthians 10:1–5); and
WHEREAS, Empty religion and formalism, of whatever kind, apart from personal relationship with Christ, cannot wash away sin or transform a heart (Matthew 7:21; 15:8; John 3:3); and
WHEREAS, The Bible speaks of salvation as including both a confession with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and a belief in the heart that God has raised Him from the dead (Matthew 16:16; Romans 10:9–10); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, reaffirm our Gospel conviction that repentance from sin and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are necessary for salvation (Acts 20:20–21); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm that repentance and faith involve a crying out for mercy and a calling on the Lord (Romans 10:13), often identified as a “sinner’s prayer,” as a biblical expression of repentance and faith; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a “sinner’s prayer” is not an incantation that results in salvation merely by its recitation and should never be manipulatively employed or utilized apart from a clear articulation of the Gospel (Matthew 6:7; 15:7–9); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we promote any and all biblical means of urging sinners to call on the name of the Lord in a prayer of repentance and faith; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we call on Southern Baptists everywhere to continue to carry out the Great Commission in North America and around the world, so that sinners everywhere, of every tribe, tongue, and language, may cry out, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
ON COOPERATION AND THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION
WHEREAS, We celebrate the history of faithful cooperation of Southern Baptists in the work of world evangelism and missions; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message has been approved by our Convention as our confession of faith regarding our commonly held convictions; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message in its affirmation of local church autonomy does not define what individual Southern Baptists and Southern Baptist churches must believe but rather what they generally and historically have believed regarding the doctrine of salvation; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2007 affirmed The Baptist Faith and Message as a consensus confession, but not a comprehensive confession, seeking to unify Southern Baptists, local churches, and other Baptist bodies that may also hold other confessions of faith; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, do without reservation reaffirm as our confession of faith The Baptist Faith and Message; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm that The Baptist Faith and Message provides sufficient parameters for understanding the doctrine of salvation, so that Southern Baptists may joyfully and enthusiastically partner together in obedience to the Great Commission; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage all Southern Baptist churches to continue in faithful cooperation as we deepen our commitment to equip the saints and reach the lost with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
ON “SAME-SEX MARRIAGE” AND CIVIL RIGHTS RHETORIC
WHEREAS, Marriage is a covenant relationship and an institution established by God rather than simply a human social construct (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Ephesians 5:22–33); and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have consistently affirmed our support of the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of one man and one woman; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures indicate that all sexual behavior outside of marriage is sinful; and
WHEREAS, All people, regardless of race or sexual orientation, are created in the image of God and thus are due respect and love (Genesis 1:26–27); and
WHEREAS, The Department of Justice has argued (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional claiming that DOMA unfairly discriminates against homosexuals; and
WHEREAS, For the first time in history the President of the United States has publicly voiced his personal support of “same-sex marriage”; and
WHEREAS, While homosexuality does not present the distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections, like the classes of race and gender, we acknowledge the unique struggles experienced by homosexuals in some parts of society; and
WHEREAS, It is regrettable that homosexual rights activists and those who are promoting the recognition of “same-sex marriage” have misappropriated the rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, oppose any attempt to frame “same-sex marriage” as a civil rights issue; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we deny that the effort to legalize “same-sex marriage” qualifies as a civil rights issue since homosexuality does not qualify as a class meriting special protections, like race and gender; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage Southern Baptists everywhere to fight for the civil rights of all people where such rights are consistent with the righteousness of God; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our love to those who struggle with same-sex attraction and who are engaged in the homosexual lifestyle; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we stand against any form of gay-bashing, whether disrespectful attitudes, hateful rhetoric, or hate-incited actions toward persons who engage in acts of homosexuality; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm that pastors should preach the truth of God’s word on human sexuality, marriage, purity, and love with all boldness and without fear of reprisal; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we proclaim that Christ offers forgiveness of sin for those who turn from their sins and believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
ON BIBLICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND THE DOCTRINE OF INERRANCY
WHEREAS, Some biblical scholars who identify themselves as evangelicals have in recent years denied the historicity of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1–2) and of the fall of mankind into sin (Genesis 3), among other historical assertions of Scripture; and
WHEREAS, Many of these same scholars have called on other evangelical scholars to abandon the doctrine of inerrancy and to embrace on a wholesale basis the methodology of higher critical biblical scholarship in the study of Scripture; and
WHEREAS, The Bible asserts for itself that it is God-breathed and is altogether sufficient “for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17); and
WHEREAS, The human authors of Scripture wrote not from their own imaginations, but instead as they were “moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21); and
WHEREAS, The primary purpose of biblical scholarship is to glorify God through the study and proclamation of “the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all” (Jude 3), which faith is set forth in Holy Scripture; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have affirmed historically and consistently our unshakeable belief that the Bible in its entirety has “truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter,” and is there- fore “totally true and trustworthy” (The Baptist Faith and Message, Article I, “The Scriptures”); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, do hereby reaffirm our belief in and adherence to the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture, as set forth in the Bible itself and in Article I of The Baptist Faith and Message; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm our belief specifically in the direct creation and historicity of Adam and Eve and in a literal, space-time fall of mankind into sin; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we call on all biblical scholars serving in Southern Baptist institutions to help shape the Christian worldview of the next generation by carrying out their work of teaching, research, and writ- ing with an excellence and freedom that is always in submission to Jesus Christ and in the service of the inerrant Word of God.
ON PROTECTING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
WHEREAS, God has made the human conscience inviolable (Romans 2:14–15; 1 Corinthians 4:3–5; 8:12; 10:29); and
WHEREAS, God has granted to all human beings the freedom to worship or not to worship according to the dictates of their con- sciences (Matthew 23:37; Revelation 3:20); and
WHEREAS, History is replete with examples of the disastrous results of governmental efforts to interfere with individual con- science and religious belief; and
WHEREAS, Our Baptist forebears suffered great persecution from civil authorities, including beatings, imprisonment, and death because of their commitment to the inviolable nature of conscience and faith; and
WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects United States citizens from any interference by the Federal Government in their “free exercise” of religion; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that all health care plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) must provide free of charge contraceptives and abortion causing drugs and devices, even if such provisions violate the faith convictions of religious employers, health plan providers, and participants; and
WHEREAS, The Obama administration will require health plans under PPACA to maintain a separate abortion fund supported by a premium surcharge on health plan participants regardless of their religiously-informed convictions about abortion; and
WHEREAS, The Justice Department (Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC, 2012) has asserted that government has the authority to determine which ministries of a church qualify for First Amendment staffing protections, in clear violation of the biblical teaching that churches are unique institutions by virtue of their divine origin (Matthew 16:18); and
WHEREAS, The United States military is currently engaged in efforts to normalize homosexual behavior in the armed services, threatening the ability of chaplains to perform ministry according to the dictates of their consciences and the teachings of their faith; and
WHEREAS, The Justice Department has argued that the federal definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is unconstitutional, threatening the ability of religious business owners and religious organizations to offer their services to those only who share their faith convictions about marriage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, steadfastly object to the administration’s efforts to undermine the religious lib- erty of American citizens; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call on President Obama to instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw its insistence that health care plans provide contraceptives and abortion causing drugs and devices and instead exempt from this requirement all religious organizations and people of faith, whether in their pri- vate capacity or as employers, who declare a religious objection to such coverage; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we deplore the provision in the PPACA that sets up a separate abortion fund in health care plans as well as the administration’s efforts to require United States citizens to pay for abortion through their health care premiums contrary to the dictates of their faith; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we declare our support for the Constitution’s recognition of the unique nature of the church and insist that the Justice Department retract its offensive, unconstitutional attitude toward the church; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we wholeheartedly support the ministry of chaplains in the United States military and call on the Obama administration to instruct our military leaders to ensure the freedom of chaplains to minister to members of the armed services according to the dictates of the chaplains’ consciences without fear or coercion; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our deepest appreciation for every person who serves in the armed services of our nation and call on the Obama administration to guarantee the right of those who have volunteered to serve to express their religious convictions about homosexual behavior without fear of reprisal; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call on the Justice Department to cease its efforts to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act and instead engage in a vigorous effort to defend this law of the land from every chal- lenge; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we pledge to defend the God-given and constitutionally guaranteed right of every American citizen to worship God freely in thought, word, and action, according to the dictates of his or her conscience.
AFFIRMING HUMAN NEEDS MINISTRY
AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BY LOCAL CHURCHES
WHEREAS, Humanity’s greatest problem at the root of all other problems is rebellion against God and separation from Him because of sin; and
WHEREAS, The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only solution to our problem, as it, through faith in Jesus Christ, reconciles us to God and to one another; and
WHEREAS, The work and ministry of Jesus involved both proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom and demonstrating the love of God; and
WHEREAS, We are commanded by Scripture both to preach the Gospel and to do good deeds so that God’s light would shine before men; and
WHEREAS, The indwelling Spirit leads us sacrificially to love our neighbor and all those in need as we love ourselves with both material and spiritual assistance; and
WHEREAS, We are ambassadors for Christ with the ministry of reconciliation to all who are alienated from God and are living under the effects of personal, social, and structural sin; and
WHEREAS, We live in a country and world where sin and its effects greatly harm individuals, families, and communities; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have a long history of providing aid to all people in times of need, including disaster relief, physical assistance, and advocacy for the oppressed, among other things; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, affirm and encourage the work of our local churches, associations, community ministry centers, state conventions, and missions agencies in their ministries to human needs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That as every local church makes disciples for Christ, it should encourage every disciple to love people; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage every local church to engage the needs of its community, supremely with a strong Gospel witness in words, and as often as possible, accompanied by a corresponding witness of deeds; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage generous support of those ministries in Baptist life that are specifically equipped to facilitate the work of human needs ministry and the involvement of local churches in the same; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage education, training, and equipping of Christians in human needs ministry as an expression of love, discipleship, and fidelity to our Lord as God gifts, directs, and enables us to be His hands and feet to a hurting and needy world.
ON AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO AMERICAN BAPTIST HISTORY
WHEREAS, African Americans have played an important role in Baptist history in the United States; and
WHEREAS, It was common for white and black Baptists to worship together before the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, Historiography has not always reflected the contribution of African American Baptists; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, acknowl- edge and express their appreciation for the contributions of African Americans to the faithful Baptist witness in the United States; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we celebrate pioneers such as African Americans George Liele, who many acknowledge as the first overseas mis- sionary from the United States in 1782; Lott Carey, who organized African American missions in the 1800s; S. M. Lockridge, who was a faithful preacher of the Gospel in the twentieth century; and Sid Smith, who was one of the first African American Southern Baptist denominational leaders in the modern era.
ON 200 YEARS OF BAPTIST MINISTRY IN LOUISIANA
WHEREAS, The year 2012, the bicentennial of the state of Louisiana, also marks the 200th anniversary of the first Baptist churches in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, God has prospered Baptist work in Louisiana, where Southern Baptists have 1,600 congregations, a Baptist college, a children’s home, forty-one local associations, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and numerous other ministries; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists in Louisiana across the decades have faithfully supported the work of Southern Baptists around the world with their prayers, their participation, and their financial contributions; and
WHEREAS, The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, one of six Southern Baptist seminaries, continues to thrive in Louisiana, even after the devastating damage of Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Baptists are marking their bicentennial with the emphasis “Awaken,” a call for spiritual awakening in the churches and the culture; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, thank God for His blessings on and through Louisiana Baptists for these two centuries; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we congratulate and celebrate with Louisiana Baptists on the occasion of their bicentennial; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage and pray for Louisiana Baptists as they seek the Lord’s face for spiritual awakening.
ON APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, The messengers to the 155th session of the Southern Baptist Convention have enjoyed a time of worship, encouragement, and fellowship; and
WHEREAS, We acknowledge God’s providence for all these bless- ings; and
WHEREAS, We also acknowledge the kind hospitality of all the people of New Orleans, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, We also acknowledge our local Southern Baptist churches, associations, committees, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and the many volunteers who worked diligently to make our stay a pleasant one; and
WHEREAS, We especially acknowledge the Lord’s work in enabling our president, officers, various committees, convention speakers, musicians, and other platform personnel to conduct the affairs of this Convention with dignity and a Christ-like spirit; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19–20, 2012, express our profound gratitude to the Lord and to all those He used to bring about a meeting characterized by grace, evangelism, worship, encouragement, cooperation, and purpose.
7:36 a.m. — Messengers this morning will consider resolutions and also learn the vote tally for the “Great Commission Baptists” descriptor recommendation. The session begins with music at 8 a.m.
