Wal-Mart's support of homosexuality, ethics in state government, and the humanitarian crisis in western Sudan surfaced as some of the top issues this year with Alabama Baptists.
And Roger Willmore, pastor of Deerfoot Baptist Church in Trussville, Ala., became the second person in state history to move through the ranks of officer positions, serving two years in each slot, before becoming president. He previously served two years as first vice president and two years as second vice president.
The election and three key issues headlined a collection of 11 resolutions passed by messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 14-15 at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover, Ala.
The Wal-Mart resolution, which calls for Baptists to pray for the store's leaders, urges messengers to ask Wal-Mart officials to reconsider their recent joining of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
A second resolution, one dealing with the conflict in Western Sudan, called for Baptists to pray for the suffering people of the Darfur region as well as offer advocacy and humanitarian aid on their behalf.
And the resolution on ethics in government urged messengers to ask state governments to ensure that officials cannot use power for personal or private gain.