OHIO BAPTIST MESSENGERS ADOPT EIGHT RESOLUTIONS

Messengers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio voted to approve the adoption of eight resolutions at the Annual Meeting held at First Baptist Church, Vandalia, on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.

Resolutions approved by the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio serve to draw attention to significant current events, and to communicate the convictions of a majority of the Messengers in attendance. The resolutions cover a range of diverse topics such as Christian citizenship, refugees, religious freedom, and spiritual awakening. "Our resolutions committee did a wonderful job wrestling through some of the tough issues of today. It is my hope that these proposed resolutions express the biblical standard and represent the convictions of our churches," says Resolutions Committee Chairman David Frasure of South Lebanon, Ohio. A committee of seven individuals, including Mr. Frasure, Steve Brown, John Johnson, Mike O’Bryant, Steve Spurlock, Ryan Strother, and Jeff Woolum met in the weeks preceding the Annual Meeting and determined the text of the resolutions. One additional resolution was presented from a Messenger during the Annual Meeting. While the additional resolution was not presented to the 320 registered messengers of the convention, chairman David Frasure took a point of privilege to express the heart of the submitted resolution with an encouragement for Ohio churches to be engaged in mission activities within the state of Ohio.

The full text of the adopted resolutions is included below.

Resolution #1
On Expressing Our Gratitude

WHEREAS, God has instructed His people to express gratefulness for those who serve faithfully (1 Thessalonians 1:2); and

WHEREAS, Our convention president, Jeremy Westbrook has faithfully served for the past year and has assisted with preparations for this meeting; and

WHEREAS, Our vice president Tom Pendergrass, second vice president David Starry, recording secretary Faye Rodgers, assistant recording secretary Annette Dessecker, and historian Jack Kwok have ably served and assisted with preparations for this meeting, and

WHEREAS, The pastor, staff, and members of First Baptist Church of Vandalia, Ohio, and the Greater Dayton Association of Baptists have been so gracious as to host this meeting; and

WHEREAS, The devoted staff of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio have played an extended role in planning and organizing this year’s Annual Meeting; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we, the messengers of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, express our gratefulness and appreciation for their leadership.

Resolution #2
On Appreciation of David Warton and Quinton Moss

WHEREAS, David Warton and Quinton Moss have faithfully demonstrated Christian character and an exceptional commitment to Mission Ohio for many years; and

WHEREAS, David and Quinton have effectively and compassionately ministered to individuals and churches throughout the state of Ohio while they have served as part of our state convention staff; and

WHEREAS, David Warton recently retired as the Church Services resource group leader and Quinton Moss has announced his upcoming retirement as Church Planting resource group leader of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we the messengers of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio express our sincere gratitude for their many years of sacrificial ministry and leadership.

Resolution #3
On Appreciation of Those Involved in Disaster Relief Ministries

WHEREAS, The  volunteers of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, and especially our own Ohio Disaster Relief Units, have effectively and compassionately ministered to individuals throughout our nation during recent natural disasters; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we the messengers of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio seek to affirm and applaud their sacrificial example and efforts of meeting practical needs in the name of Christ (Matthew 25:35-40);  and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage prayer for, support of, and involvement with these important ministries.

Resolution #4
On Voting as an Expression of Christian Citizenship

WHEREAS, God has ordained government to reward good and to punish evil (Roman 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13-14); and

WHEREAS, Jesus described His followers as “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16), indicating the Lord’s desire for believers to influence their surrounding society; and

WHEREAS, We desire to reflect the original intention of the founding fathers to influence their local, state, and national elected leaders; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message affirms that “all Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society” and that “every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love”; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, meeting in Vandalia, Ohio, November 2, 2016, give thanks to God that He has placed us in a nation with freedom of expression and opportunity to influence government, a freedom secured at a high price, even with shed blood on the battlefield; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage believers in the State of Ohio to participate in the democratic process by prayerfully casting an informed vote; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we remind believers in the State of Ohio that the nation’s hope ultimately is not in political processes or governmental power, but in God alone; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we prayerfully urge the candidates for political office and the current officials to endorse the Biblical values upon which society should rest; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commit ourselves to pray earnestly for our officials and for God to bring spiritual renewal to our state and our nation.

Resolution #5
On Support of the Cooperative Program

WHEREAS, The Cooperative Program has served Southern Baptists for 91 years as a financial strategy to reach the lost and funds missionaries around the world through support of our State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, the North American Mission Board, and the International Mission Board; and

WHEREAS, Ohio is a state of diverse people groups in need of the gospel and opportunities are plentiful for church planting, evangelism, and ministry; and

WHEREAS, The Cooperative Program affords openings for State Convention of Baptists in Ohio member churches to engage in training, fellowship and cooperation for ministry; and

WHEREAS, Jesus tells us the “That harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  (Matt. 9:37-38); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we the messengers of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, encourage our member churches to continue to and increase support of the Cooperative Program to support the evangelization of the peoples of Ohio, North America and to the Ends of the Earth (Acts 1:8, Matt 28:18-20); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commit ourselves to fulfill the original vision of the Cooperative Program “for the purpose of eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the Baptist denomination of Christians, for the propagation of the Gospel.”

Resolution #6
On Biblical Sexuality and the Freedom of Conscience

WHEREAS, we seek to affirm the resolution of the 2016 Southern Baptist Convention On Biblical Sexuality and the Freedom of Conscience; and

WHEREAS, In the beginning God created male and female in His image as the crowning act of Creation (Genesis 1:26–27); and

WHEREAS, Marriage is between one man and one woman, ordered by God toward the union of the spouses, the means of procreation, formative of family, and foundational to the common good of society (Genesis 1:28, 2:18–24); and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message asserts, “God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it”; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message also affirms, “A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power”; and

WHEREAS, Any law that directly contradicts natural law and biblical truth is an unjust law; and

WHEREAS, Our highest respect for the rule of law requires that we not affirm an unjust law that directly contradicts higher law; and

WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution and every state Constitution recognize the importance of and the need to protect the free exercise of religion; and

WHEREAS, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act adopted in 1993 with near unanimous support by the United States Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton restored the careful balancing test for weighing claims of religious liberty infringement against a compelling government interest, using the least restrictive means; and

WHEREAS, Many states have passed similar legislation expressly protecting the free exercise of religion; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision in 2015 purporting to redefine marriage does violence to the Constitution and is contrary to the Bible and natural order; and

WHEREAS, The Obama Administration’s recent “guidance” requiring transgender access in public school bathrooms and locker rooms based on its unauthorized redefinition of “sex” in federal law rejects God’s design of male and female; and

WHEREAS, Business owners and employees of various faiths are increasingly faced with decisions to submit to unjust laws about marriage and sexuality or violate their consciences; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, meeting in Vandalia, Ohio, in November, 2016, express our commitment to biblical sexuality and continue to stand united in defense of God’s design for marriage; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we dissent from the Obergefell opinion that purports to redefine the institution of marriage created by God; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we pledge to strengthen biblical marriages in our homes, churches, and communities; and be it further

RESOLVED,  That we applaud and support the efforts of the various state attorneys general, including Mike DeWine of Ohio, in their challenge to the Obama Administration’s transgender “guidance”; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reiterate our love for our neighbors who identify as transgender, seek their good always, welcome them to our churches, and, as they repent and believe in Christ, receive them into church membership (2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Galatians 5:14); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we applaud and encourage our brothers and sisters who struggle with gender identity or same sex attraction, but who have chosen holiness and God’s design instead (Romans 3:23; 1 Corinthians 6:11); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we express our continued support for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and similar laws and call on government officials to reject requests that would tamper with or weaken these laws; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call on Congress to pass the First Amendment Defense Act in order to ensure that the federal government does not discriminate against people of faith because of their convictions regarding marriage; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon our elected officials to pass laws at every level of government that protect the free exercise of religion; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we stand in solidarity with those whose jobs, professions, businesses, ministries, schools, and personal freedoms are threatened because their consciences will not allow them to recognize, promote, or participate in activities associated with unbiblical marriage; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commit to pray for revival and a return to a recognition of the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman, God’s design for gender, freedom of conscience, and unhindered religious freedom.

Resolution #7
On Reaching Refugees and People Groups in Ohio

WHEREAS, The Great Commission compels all believers to reach all ethnic people groups with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20); and

WHEREAS, Ohio has become a state which currently has almost 300,000 people who are part of 125 identified international people groups (peoplegroups.info); and

WHEREAS, 102 of those people groups are either unengaged and unreached or engaged but unreached and are in need of the gospel; and

WHEREAS, Many of the refugees coming into our state are Christians attempting to escape religious persecution; and

WHEREAS, all of the refugees and immigrants coming into our state are in need of a relationship with Christ; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we the messengers of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio will regularly pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, that they may remain bold in their faith and be protected from harm; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we will be committed to extending Christian love and friendship to all people groups entering our state; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we will support efforts by Ohio churches, the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio, and the North American Mission Board to strengthen and establish new churches in Ohio to reach and to minister to these refugees and people groups; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we will do our part, with God’s help, to see that these people groups have the opportunity to receive the saving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Resolution #8
On Revival and Spiritual Awakening

WHEREAS, America, and the church therein, is in need of revival and spiritual awakening; and

WHEREAS, God places responsibility on the church and the believer to be salt and light, influencing the nation; and

WHEREAS, God’s word calls the church to be humble, to seek His face, to repent of our sin, and to proclaim the gospel toward the salvation of others; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That we the Messengers of the 63rd Annual Meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio hold ourselves accountable to seek revival among ourselves and our churches; and be it further

RESOLVED, To be humble in the recognition of our need of God’s move; and be it further

RESOLVED, To pray and fast in seeking God for revival of the church and spiritual awakening of the lost; and be it further

RESOLVED, To repent of our sin, both personally and corporately; and finally be it

RESOLVED, To never be content with decreased and stagnant baptisms and church attendance.