ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP) — Messengers to the Louisiana Baptist Convention approved eight resolutions without discussion — including statements against embryonic stem-cell research, gay marriage, and homosexuality — during the closing session of their Nov. 15-16 annual meeting, when leaders acknowledged a quorum may not have been present.
Louisiana Baptists urged an end to all funding - public and private - for embryonic stem-cell research, diverting it instead to adult stem-cell research. The statement notes that embryonic stem-cell research requires that human embryos be destroyed, which it declares “morally equivalent to murder.”
Messengers declared support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman. The Federal Marriage Amendment, they said, is needed to offset the push to legalize same-sex marriages in the country.
Another resolution urged Louisiana Baptists to continue to address the issue of homosexuality from a “biblical” standpoint. The statement asserts that homosexuality is becoming more acceptable but remains an “abomination unto God” and “unrighteous.” It calls on pastors to continue “stating very plainly what the Bible teaches about homosexuality.”
Louisiana Baptists were encouraged to embrace a “biblical worldview,” alleging that only 4 percent of American adults and 9 percent of self-professed Christians do so. Those who do not embrace such a view are more accepting of abortion, pornography, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, drunkenness, profanity, adultery and gambling, the resolution notes. The resolution urges persons to repent of their slackness and indifference in such things and calls on them to stand against every effort to undermine the authority of God's Word.
Messengers elected three officers endorsed by the Louisiana Inerrancy Fellowship. President Philip Robertson, pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church in Deville, was re-elected to a second term, despite a challenge from Gil Arthur, pastor of East Leesville Baptist Church in Leesville. Robertson won the election 787 to 656.
Three times in the last eight years, challengers have arisen to unsuccessfully oppose the sitting president for a second term.
Gary Richerson, pastor at Peniel Baptist Church in Glenmora, was elected first vice president over one other nominee. Mitch Harris, pastor at Goodwood Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, was elected second vice president without opposition.
Messengers welcomed David Hankins as the convention's new executive director. Hankins, a former Louisiana pastor who serves as executive vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, was elected in October and will begin his duties in February, succeeding Dean Doster, who is retiring.
In other business, messengers approved a static budget of $22 million for 2005. The portion forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention was increased from 35.25 percent to 35.5 percent, despite a motion that the amount be kept in Louisiana to assist in a time of leadership transition.