SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas passed resolutions Nov. 9 supporting traditional marriage and public schools, but messengers avoided controversy over gay marriage and a proposed “exodus” from public education.
Many state Baptist conventions this fall are endorsing the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment or similar measures on the state level to ban gay marriage.
The Texas Baptist resolution upholds the traditional biblical view of marriage as “a sacred union between a man and a woman” while supporting single-parent households. But the statement, which passed by an overwhelming majority, makes no mention of gay marriage or marriage-like unions.
Nonetheless, the measure met with some resistance. “I don't feel that this resolution is in accordance with a sense of inclusion and allowing everyone who is Baptist to be part of this wonderful group,” said Charliene Hooker, a messenger from First Baptist Church in Fredricksburg.
But other comments supporting the resolution were met with applause and a strong show of favoritism from messengers.
Another resolution committed messengers to pray for the students, teachers and staff of public schools. The statement said it is necessary to provide continued financial and spiritual support for public schools, which serve children of all financial, racial and ethnic backgrounds.
The resolution is in sharp contrast to one expected to surface in at least 10 Baptist conventions this fall which decries the “anti-Christian” influence of public, or “government,” schools.
Last June, the Southern Baptist Convention declined to act on the anti-schools resolution, which urges Christians to remove their children from “godless” public schools and put them in “thoroughly” Christian schools or educate them at home. The resolution is promoted nationally by a group called Exodus Mandate, which involves many Southern Baptists.
The Texas convention also took a stand for the poor and needy when it resolved to urge the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to be prudent when relying on ministries to fill the gap for volunteer efforts. The state is turning to churches and community ministries to help people connect with social-service benefits as 200 regional offices are being closed.
The state also reduced the number of chaplains for state prisons by more than 40 percent, prompting another BGCT resolution urging the state government to maintain all current chaplain positions.
“We need to repair some of the damage that has been done [by these cuts],” said Phil Strickland, director of the BGCT Christian Life Commission.