Messengers to take up resolutions at annual meeting

RESOLUTION 1: ON EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, Many individuals and groups have had a part in planning, preparing and conducting the 178th annual meeting of our Louisiana Baptist Convention; and
WHEREAS, The messengers of this Convention desire to warmly recognize and express appreciation to the following:
Carrow Rasberry, facility director for the Randolph Riverfront Center and her staff for their assistance with details and for providing the use of their facilities for this annual meeting; and
Dr. David Goza, Convention president, who is pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, for his warm, gracious spirit in leading, speaking and listening to Louisiana Baptists this year, and his gentle firmness in moderating this annual meeting; and
Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, for their commitment to sharing the Gospel in our state by graciously supporting Dr. Goza’s leadership of all the churches of the Louisiana Baptist Convention this past year; and
Cullen McDaniel, music director for this annual meeting, who is the minister of music with Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, for planning and coordinating the music, and the musicians and singers for their contribution of instrumental and vocal talents; and
Tommy Middleton, chairman of the Committee on Order of Business, who is the associational mission strategist for the Baptist Association of Greater Baton Rouge and a member of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, and the members of the Committee on Order of Business for planning this informative and inspirational annual meeting; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 178th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Alexandria, Louisiana, November 11, 2025, express to each of the above and to all who contributed our deepest heartfelt gratitude.
RESOLUTION 2: ON ENCOURAGING CHURCHES TO SUPPORT LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
WHEREAS, Louisiana Christian University has been a cornerstone of Christian education in the state of Louisiana, committed to nurturing students in both faith and academic excellence; and
WHEREAS, LCU continues to provide a Christ-centered education that prepares students to serve God and their communities with integrity, knowledge, and compassion; and
WHEREAS, The financial support of churches plays a crucial role in sustaining and expanding the mission of LCU to provide affordable and quality Christian higher education to future generations of leaders; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Mark Johnson has been called to bring fresh and visionary leadership; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Terry Young, pastor of Airline Baptist Church, Bossier City, brought a series of motions to the floor of the annual meeting in 2024 asking Louisiana Baptists to renew their support for LCU; and
WHEREAS, Messengers in 2024 voted unanimously to dedicate the first Sunday in February as a Day of Prayer for LCU; and
WHEREAS, We affirm the Cooperative Program as the primary financial mechanism to provide support to LCU from our churches; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 178th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Alexandria, Louisiana, November 11, 2025, encourage and call upon churches across Louisiana to receive a special freewill offering for Louisiana Christian University coinciding with the annual Day of Prayer for LCU on the first Sunday of February; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we also urge churches to support LCU through prayer, partnerships, and engagement in the work of equipping students for Christ-centered service and leadership; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we affirm the Louisiana Baptist Convention’s continuing support for Louisiana Christian University as a vital ministry partner in fulfilling the Great Commission, and we commit to continue partnering with the university in the years to come to see the Gospel proclaimed through higher education in Louisiana.
RESOLUTION 3: ON THE EXIT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD FROM LOUISIANA
WHEREAS, Scripture clearly affirms the sanctity of human life from conception through old age and into eternity (Psalm 139:13–16; Isaiah 46:4; John 3:16); and
WHEREAS, God abhors the shedding of innocent blood and requires His people to do all in their power to rescue persons from such acts (Proverbs 6:16–17; 24:11–12); and
WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its affiliates have been the largest single provider of abortions in the United States for up to 40 years, having established its dark presence in Louisiana for those four decades; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Baptists have repeatedly affirmed our commitment to the sanctity of human life, including the call for our state and federal governments to abolish all abortions and the plea for them to defund Planned Parenthood; and
WHEREAS, In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, returning authority for abortion to the states, thus triggering Louisiana’s total ban on elective abortions; and
WHEREAS, In 2025, the U.S. Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that defunded Planned Parenthood for one year, thus shutting off the largest single source of funds for its facilities in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana’s abortion ban combined with the withholding of state and federal funds from Planned Parenthood caused this giant abortion conglomerate to close its last two facilities in our state (Baton Rouge and New Orleans) on September 30, 2025; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 178th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Alexandria, Louisiana, November 11, 2025, do joyfully celebrate the forced exit of Planned Parenthood from our state; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we heartily commend the pro-life champions in our churches, in the public square and in the legislature who persisted since 1973 in successfully ending all elective abortions in our state; and be if further
RESOLVED, That we strongly urge our churches and lawmakers to continue the fight to stop the shipping of the outlawed abortion pill into our state, which will effectively end all secret illegal abortions in Louisiana; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we gratefully thank God for that which was impossible for the pro-life movement to achieve and that He orchestrated in the overturning of Roe v. Wade after it had been the law of the land for 49 years (Luke 18:27), thus establishing a legal sanctuary for the unborn in Louisiana; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we humbly ask Him to continue to strengthen, protect and guide us to seek, find and do His will to impact the moral, social and spiritual character of Louisiana, the nation and beyond.
RESOLUTION 4: ON ENCOURAGING BIBLICAL MARRIAGE BY REMOVING THE MARRIAGE PENALTY
WHEREAS Marriage is the one-flesh lifelong union under God between one man and one woman, joining them in every aspect of human existence, including the physical, sexual, mental, emotional, moral, spiritual and economic spheres of life (Genesis 2:24); and
WHEREAS, Marriage is a divinely created institution that is intended as a blessing to all mankind (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31-33; Matthew 5:45); and
WHEREAS believers, unless laws contradict Scripture, citizens should marry in accordance with the regulations and requirements of government (Romans 13:1-7; Daniel 3; Acts 4:18-20; 5:17-42); and
WHEREAS, Government provides an economic safety net for individuals in the forms of Medicaid and Social Security Insurance among other welfare provisions; and
WHEREAS, A report by the Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that “marriage penalties” within this safety net of resources “may play a modest role in discouraging marriage and encouraging cohabitation among low-income families”; and
WHEREAS, Media reports as well as anecdotal contacts from pastors indicate elderly widows and widowers as well as disabled couples among others are choosing to cohabit rather than marry and suffer losses of individual assets and Social Security benefits; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 178th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Alexandria, Louisiana, November 11, 2025, most strongly affirm that those who seek a marital relationship must proclaim their “one-flesh” commitment through legal matrimony regardless of practical budgetary reasons or other pragmatic considerations to do otherwise; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we most strongly condemn any barriers to marriage created by “marriage penalties” in the financial and healthcare safety nets the government provides, and we call on public officials to end any and all such barriers to marriage; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the Louisiana Baptist Convention restates its commitment to promote and support the biblical construct of marriage, the one-flesh lifelong union under God between one man and one woman, regardless of governmental attempts to restrict marriage or reform it into secular concepts that defy the Word of God.
RESOLUTION 5: ON EQUAL PROTECTION FOR PRE-BORN CHILDREN
WHEREAS, as stated by Louisiana Baptists in 2023, Scripture reveals that all human life is created in the image of God, and therefore sacred to our Creator (Genesis 1:27; 9:6); and
1p2.4 as also stated by Louisiana Baptists in 2023, the Bible affirms that the preborn child is a person, bearing the image of God, from the moment of conception (Psalm 139:13–16; Luke 1:44); and
WHEREAS, Scripture strongly condemns shedding the blood of an image bearer of God (Genesis 9:6); and
WHEREAS, God views life in the womb as a baby or child, using the same terms to identify children in the womb as used for born children (Luke 1:41 & 44, 2:12 & 16); and
WHEREAS, God hates laws and judgments that show partiality (Deuteronomy 16:19; Exodus 23:2–3; Leviticus 19:15; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Proverbs 24:23; Proverbs 28:21; Malachi 2:9; James 2:1; James 2:9); and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Baptists have historically recognized the sanctity of life in the womb and repeatedly reaffirmed our pro-life ethic and our opposition to the heinous murder of abortion; and
WHEREAS, our confessional statement, The Baptist Faith and Message, according to Article XV, affirms that children “from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord”; and further affirms that Southern Baptists are mandated by Scripture to “speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death;” and
WHEREAS, Louisiana law defines human life in the womb as from the moment of conception/fertilization and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides equal protection under law to all humans; let us be
RESOLVED, as Louisiana Baptists, to stand for equal protection under the law of all children in the womb and to be the prophetic voice in our culture that calls on our elected officials to pursue legislation to provide children in their mothers’ wombs the same protection under law as children in their mothers’ arms.