SPRINGFIELD – Speaking with one voice and with little debate, messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting here were unified in their support of a resolution reaffirming religious liberty for all Americans.
“Resolution 3” spoke in defense of religious liberty, pointing out that Baptist in the United States and in Missouri have a long history of supporting freedom of religious exercise for all.
The resolution notes that “religious liberty guarantees, not merely the right of private worship, but of one’s public expression of their religion.”
It went on to say that “religious liberty is under direct threat as never before,”and that many local, state and federal legislatures and courts are “increasingly demonstrating intolerance of and hostility toward orthodox religious and moral viewpoints, openly declaring that religious liberties must give way to the new morality, its redefinition of marriage, and its demand for coercive moral, cultural, and legal sovereignty.”
Finally, the resolution asked Missouri Baptists to “remind our Legislators and Courts that religious liberty is our first freedom and call upon “the Missouri State Legislature to pass a Religious Liberty Protection Act (and/or a Missouri constitutional amendment) that explicitly secures our religious liberty and freedom of conscience for pastors, churches, businesses, schools, student groups, colleges, and institutions.” (See story, page 1).
“Resolution 2” spoke on the sanctity of human life, urging messengers to support legistlation that limits abortion with an eye toward elimitating it, as well as actively supporting ministries that provide alternatives to abortion.
“Resolution 4” spoke in favor of the Cooperative Program, and urged all Missouri Baptists to given sacrificially and to support the cooperative method of funding Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries.
“Resolution 5” urged support of the nation of Israel, asking Missouri Baptists to pray “for God’s peace to rule Jerusalem, all its inhabitants,” and to call upon national and world leaders “to renounce the growing tide of anti-Semitism and return to America’s historical and biblical commitment to Israel.”
All resolutions passed unanimously, including Resolution 1, a courtesy resolution. To read the full text of each resolution, go to www.mobaptist.org/annual meeting.