Louisiana Baptist convention messengers approved six resolutions last week,
including four on key moral and social issues.
Messengers adopted all six without debate or opposition.
Louisiana Baptist convention messengers approved six resolutions last week,
including four on key moral and social issues.
Messengers adopted all six without debate or opposition.
In the conventions opening session, messengers approved their traditional
statements of appreciation for convention organizers and for the work of the
Louisiana Moral and Civic Foundation. The latter statement again urges churches
to support the foundation in their annual budgets with at least $1 per member.
In the conventions closing session, messengers approved four other statements
on a single vote.
While the statements are non-binding on local churches and individual Louisiana
Baptists, they do reflect the sentiments of convention messengers and traditionally
are seen as statements embraced by a majority of church members.
The four resolutions address key issues:
Homosexuality and the church
The approved statement cites an increase in media images depicting homosexuality
and notes the homosexual community has organized into an effective political
force “with influence and advocacy ties far outreaching its actual size.”
The statement disputes the popular estimate that 10 percent of the American
population is homosexual, saying that is exaggerated and that the actual figure
is less than 2 percent, as reported by the National Centers for Health Statistics
and the Centers for Disease Control.
The resolution cites the homosexual strategy to seek anti-discrimination protection
similar to the civil rights movement, while noting that the Bible speaks against
homosexuality in both the Old and New Testaments. “(It) identifies homosexual
offenders as sinners separated from God (1 Corinthians 6:9) and places homosexuals
in a serious category of offenses before God (Romans 1:26-32).
At the same time, the statement reminds messengers that they are called to
“biblical love that focuses on the souls of the person engaged in this
particular sin and … called to … love the sinner and hate the sin.”
It points to a Southern Baptist Convention call for a dual ministry of “speaking
the truth about homosexuality and simultaneously ministering to homosexuals.”
In turn, it calls on Louisiana Baptist pastors to “prayerfully and boldly
address their proclamation responsibility, which has to do with exposing, exegeting
and stating very plainly what the scriptures teach about homosexuality and other
lifestyle choices that are sinful, while they continue to address their responsibility
in doing and leading the members of their congregations to do productive, effective
and redemptive ministry toward all sinners.”
Mandatory reporting of child abuse
The approved statement notes that almost 13,000 valid allegations of child
abuse were reported in Louisiana from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002, including
34 deaths.
It also notes the scandals that have hit the Catholic Church concerning child
abuse by priests and others.
Along with media reporting, these factors have served to “cast doubt and
cause mistrust on the part of some of the citizens of Louisiana in regard to
child abuse and the reported of same by the clergy,” the resolution states.
The statement points out that the Louisiana Legislature recently approved a
law requiring clergy to report suspected child abuse, except in cases where
the knowledge is gained during confidential communication – “defined
by law as when a member of the clergy, who in the course of the discipline or
practice of that church, denomination or organization is authorized and accustomed
to hearing confidential communication and, under the discipline or tenets of
the church, denomination or organization, has a duty to keep such communication
confidential.”
The statement notes that some religious leaders have voiced concerns about
the new law, saying it poses dangerous liability issues for churches and ministers.
The statement acknowledges those fears, even while expressing “grave concern”
about the problem of child abuse and urging ministers to protect and minister
to children in abusive situations. It calls on ministers and others to monitor
the effects of the new law and to report any problems to the Louisiana Moral
and Civic Foundation so legislative remedies can be pursued.
Christian marriage
The approved statement notes the Bible presents marriage as a “sacred
bond created by God between one man and one woman for the rest of their lives.”
It notes laws have supported that concept of marriage – but are under
increased attack by homosexual activists demanding recognition of their unions.
These activists already have achieved some success and appear to be on the verge
of more. The statement also contends that no-fault divorce laws are undermining
the institution of marriage, causing a rise in divorce.
“The resulting disintegration of marriage has tragic implications for
the future of our churches and our nation, and the breakup of marriages has
lasting and devastating consequences for children as well as adults,” the
resolution reads.
It points out that Louisiana has adopted a covenant marriage law designed to
make divorce more difficult and provide more support for marriages.
The statement says only 4 percent of Louisiana couples chose that option in
2001. But it also points out the state legislature recently passed a law that
is designed to limit ministerial liability for those who counsel couples under
the covenant marriage concept.
In light of that, the statement affirms the biblical concept of marriage, sets
forth strong opposition to any action to legitimize homosexual unions and urges
pastors to lead couples to choose covenant marriages.
Finally, it calls on Louisiana Baptist churches to celebrate Covenant Marriage
Sunday on February 15, 2004 – or on another day of their choosing.
Video poker and local option votes
The approved statement recounts the history of video poker in Louisiana, including
the fact that 33 parishes voted the machines out in 1996.
However, it also notes moves are underway to allow those parishes or even municipalities
in those parishes to revisit the issue and possibly legalize video poker once
more.
The concept of municipality elections especially are troublesome because it
would have a hodgepodge effect in which video poker could be outlawed throughout
a parish – except for in one town or city.
Citing the negative impact of gambling, the resolution restates Louisiana Baptists
opposition to “any and all forms of gambling in Louisiana and our support
of any legislation that will repeal and/or limit the expansion of video poker
and other forms of gambling in Louisiana.”
It urges Louisiana Baptists to support the repeal or limiting of gambling in
the state. It also urges legislators to support such moves. It asks legislators
to ensure that any local option election be possible only through the petition
of 25 percent of voters in any given parish and that no local option election
on video poker be allowed in municipalities.