2017 RESOLUTION I Appreciation of Hosts
WHEREAS, churches and members of Waco Regional Baptist Association have been gracious hosts for the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Waco; and WHEREAS, Texas Baptists as a whole desire to affirm the work of Baptists in the Waco area;
Corsicana, president; Joseph Fields, New Beginnings Baptist Church in Lewisville, first vice president; and Jim Heiligman, First Baptist Church in Bryan, second vice president; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we express our appreciation to David Hardage, executive director, and to the men and women who work on the BGCT staff for their faithful labor on behalf of Texas Baptists; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we continue our prayerful and loving support to encourage these leaders in their work and leadership.
BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers to the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Waco express their appreciation to the churches and members of Waco Regional Baptist Association; and
2017 RESOLUTION III
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we express our gratitude to the members of the Committee on the Annual Meeting and their important contributions.
WHEREAS, there is no place in God’s kingdom or domain for racial prejudice or any type of bias based on race or religion; and
2017 RESOLUTION II Appreciation to Convention Officers and Staff
WHEREAS, those serving as officers of the Baptist General Convention of Texas have given their time and energy to lead Texas Baptists this past year; and WHEREAS they have diligently and faithfully served the offices to which they were elected; and WHEREAS the staff of the BGCT has faithfully served Texas Baptists during this past year; BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers to the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Waco express our appreciation to the officers of the convention who have served during the past year: Danny Reeves, First Baptist Church of
Racial Reconciliation
WHEREAS, the news of our day carries stories of a nation and a world divided by racial prejudice, unrest, and hatred; and WHEREAS the Bible is clear that all human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:1-2:4); and WHEREAS the Bible tells us repeatedly we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:9-18, Matthew· 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28, Galatians 5:14, James 2:8); and Jesus said to love our enemies (Matthew 5:4348); and the parable of the Good Samaritan is an example of neighbor love that breaks the barrier of racial tension and prejudice among people of God (Luke 10:30-37); and WHEREAS, the Apostle Peter said, “God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:34-35, NKJV); and WHEREAS, Scripture reminds us that Christ, by his blood, redeems people “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9, NKJV); and WHEREAS, Revelation 7:9 pictures “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (NKJV); BE IT RESOLVED that the messengers to the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas in Waco decry every form of racism as a contradiction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we denounce and repudiate every form of racial and ethnic hatred as a scheme of the devil intended to bring suffering and division to the church and our society; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we encourage churches and individual Christians to build relationships, listen to others, provide education, and promote understanding in order to bridge the racial divides in the church and our culture; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we earnestly pray for the peace of Christ to fill the hearts of all believers; that we do not allow division in the midst of our God-given diversity; and that we celebrate the love of God for all his creation and all his children. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we, as Texas Baptists, from all racial and ethnic groups, acknowledging that we are one in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28), stand together to uphold 9