2021 RESOLUTION I Appreciation of Hosts WHEREAS, churches and members of Galveston Baptist Assocation have provided leadership and key service at annual meeting; and WHEREAS, Texas Baptists as a whole desire to affirm the work of Baptists in the Gaveston area; and WHEREAS, The City of Galveston, Galveston Island Chamber of Commerce, Galveston Island Convention Center and the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Burea have provided hospitality, assistance, and a friendly welcome; BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers to the 2021 annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Galveston express their appreciation to the churches and members of Galveston Baptist Association and Galveston Island community; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we express our gratitude to the members of the Committee on the Annual Meeting and their important contributions.
2021 RESOLUTION II Celebration of Women in Texas Baptist Life WHEREAS, women have served Texas Baptists in numerous and complex ways, which include elected offices, faithful service on committees, local and foreign mission work, positions in higher education, as well as within local churches; WHEREAS, that Texas Baptists continue to affirm and celebrate the contribution of women advancing God’s Kingdom. BE IT RESOLVED, that the messengers of the 2021 Texas Baptists annual meeting 8
affirm the ongoing efforts of Texas Baptists following Christ’s example of engaging, empowering, and entrusting women with the Gospel.
2021 RESOLUTION III Generational Change WHEREAS, according to many Texas Baptist pastors, young people in our state are leaving the church at alarming rates consistent with the national trends; and WHEREAS, the Baptist General Convention of Texas has a rich and worthy heritage of local churches, local and global service, and mission-sending to share; and WHEREAS, Texas Baptists have a long tradition of sharing the Gospel and reaching the “next generation” for Christ; and WHEREAS, in light of this tradition, Texas Baptists have the desire to reach, influence, and disciple Millennials and Generation Z towards faith in Christ; and WHEREAS, according to Gallup, only 36% of Millennials are members of a church; and WHEREAS, according to American Bible Society, only 9% of Gen Z are Biblecommitted Christians; and WHEREAS, according to Barna, Gen Z more than any other generation says, “I used to go to church, but it’s just not important to me anymore”; and WHEREAS, according to Barna, Gen Z Christians more than any other generation have a desire to share their faith with their friends; and WHEREAS, over half the population of the United States are Millennials and younger as of July 2019 and the current median age of Texans is 34 years old according to U.S. Census Data; and
BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers to the 2021 annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Galveston reaffirm a commitment to reaching, discipling, caring for, and welcoming Millennials and Gen Z into our local churches; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we reaffirm a commitment to calling into ministry and training up Millennial and Gen Z Christians, equipping them as pastors and leaders in our local churches; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we encourage the Baptist General Convention of Texas and all its churches to make a purposeful effort to minister to Millennials and Gen Z both through the promotion of young leaders and shifts in ministry strategy that engage those generations’ language and cultural ethos with the gospel.