Friday, June 14, 2013
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS PASS TWO RESOLUTIONS: ON GAYS IN BOY SCOUTS & SEX ABUSE OF CHILDREN URGING GREATER DISCERNMENT BY CHURCH LEADERS
Full Text of Resolution 6 from Baptist Press:
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION RESOLUTION 6
ON THE CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP POLICY OF THE
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
has been a values-based boys organization designed to "prepare young
people for a lifetime of character and leadership," equipping them "to
make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them
the values of the Scout Oath and Law"; and
WHEREAS, The Scout Oath contains language that is consistent with
belief in God and biblical precepts that serve as the basis for Christian
faith: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep
myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight"; and
WHEREAS, The leadership of the Boy Scouts throughout its history has
restricted from membership and leadership those persons who would
affect the group's ability to advocate its viewpoints in regard to belief in
God and His moral precepts; and
WHEREAS, In 1992, and again in 2000, the Southern Baptist Convention
adopted resolutions affirming the Boy Scouts in their stand that homosexual
conduct is inconsistent with the obligations of the Scout Oath,
encouraging the BSA "to maintain its historic commitments" (1992) and
"to hold fast to its traditional ideals" (2000); and
WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the
constitutional right to freedom of association allows a private organization,
as part of its "expressive message," to exclude a person from
membership when "the presence of that person affects in a significant
way the group's ability to advocate public or private viewpoints" and that
allowing homosexuals as adult leaders would interfere with that message
(Boy Scouts of America et al. v. Dale); and
WHEREAS, In 2004, the Boy Scouts adopted a policy statement that
said, in part, "Boy Scouts of America believes that homosexual conduct
is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to
be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed"; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, an eleven-person committee appointed by the
National Council of the Boy Scouts completed a two-year study and
reported its unanimous decision that the Boy Scouts retain the current
policy as outlined above; and
WHEREAS, NBC News reported in breaking news on January 28,
2013, that the BSA executive leadership, in concert with certain members
of the BSA board of directors, was poised to change the Scouts'
historic policy at its February 4–5 board meeting the following week to
allow avowed homosexuals into membership and leadership positions
within the Boy Scouts of America; and
WHEREAS, During the week between when news broke of this proposed
policy change and the February board meeting, the Boy Scouts
received an outpouring of feedback from Scouts, Scouting families,
sponsoring organizations, and the American public; and
WHEREAS, On February 6, 2013, the BSA board determined that, "due
to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a deliberate
review of its membership policy"; and
WHEREAS, The National Council of the Boy Scouts voted on May 23,
2013, to approve new membership guidelines that state, "no youth may
be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of
sexual orientation or preference alone"; and
basic understandings
of male friendships, needlessly politicize human sexuality,
and heighten sexual tensions within the Boy Scouts; and
WHEREAS, Many Southern Baptist churches sponsor Boy Scout troops
and many Southern Baptists are involved in Scouting; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message states that "Christians
should oppose . . . all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery,
homosexuality, and pornography," and Southern Baptists consistently
have expressed their opposition to the normalization of homosexual
behavior in American culture through more than a dozen resolutions
over the past thirty years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention
meeting in Houston, Texas, June 11–12, 2013, express our continued
opposition to and disappointment in the decision of the Boy Scouts of
America to change its membership policy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our gratitude for the thousands of individuals
within the Scouting family and the culture at large who expressed
their opposition to the BSA executive leadership's intent to change its
membership and leadership policies in regard to homosexuality, leading
to the compromise recommendation it presented to the BSA National
Council; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our gratitude to each voting member of
the National Council who voted in opposition to the policy change for
membership; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we express our well-founded concern that the current
executive leadership of the BSA, along with certain board members, may
utilize this membership policy change as merely the first step toward
future approval of homosexual leaders in the Scouts; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call on the Boy Scouts to remove from executive
and board leadership those individuals who, earlier this year, sought
to change both the membership and leadership policy of the Scouts
without seeking input from the full range of the Scouting family; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the right of all families and churches
prayerfully to assess their continued relationship with the BSA, expressing
our support for those churches and families that as a matter of conscience
can no longer be part of the Scouting family; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage churches and families that remain in the
Boy Scouts to seek to impact as many boys as possible with the life-changing
Gospel of Jesus Christ, to work toward the reversal of this new membership
policy, and to advocate against any future change in leadership and
membership policy that normalizes sexual conduct opposed to the biblical
standard;
RESOLVED, That we encourage churches that choose to sever ties
with the Boy Scouts not to abandon their ministry to boys but consider
expanding their Royal Ambassadors ministry, a distinctively Southern
Baptist missions organization to develop godly young men; and be
it finally
RESOLVED, That we declare our love in Christ for all young
people regardless of their perceived sexual orientation, praying that
God will bring all youth into a saving knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
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SBC Resolution on Sexual Abuse of Children adopted with amendment
June 12, 2013
Peter Lumpkins
June 12, 2013
Peter Lumpkins
See YouTube video here:
Below is the vetted version of the resolution on sexual abuse of children I originally proposed. In [bold] text is an amendment I offered reinserting what I felt was a valid concern toward convention leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention and their relationships with organizations and/or individuals with disturbing policies and practices in protecting our children.
How timely for Southern Baptists to not only endorse a statement strongly encouraging pastors and churches to openly and forthrightly handle abusive situations with children, thus demonstrating that protecting our children is of utmost importance to us, but also sending a strong message to denominational leadership to employ the highest sense of discernment in affiliating with either organizations or individuals that possess morally questionable policies or practices in protecting children from abusive situations.
Consequently, we encourage trustees of all our entities and agencies to pay careful attention to the point of reference the resolution on sexual abuse of children constitutes and to monitor closely the individuals and/or organizations affiliated with us via our denominational leadership. We are convinced that there presently exists unhealthy liaisons which need to be addressed (see also here and here).
Finally, I possess no intentions of leaving this issue behind. While the resolution on the sexual abuse of children is a good start, it remains a poor ending. Given our Baptist polity, we fully understand no resolution may usurp the local church autonomy we hold dear. However, I personally plan to explore ways we may be able to adequately and legitimately address the issue with strong policies and procedures which protect children while retaining our rightful Baptist heritage of local church autonomy. May we pray to that end. Our children areworth it!
[Here is the SBC statement of resolutions.]
ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
WHEREAS, The Bible is clear in its affirmation that children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3–5); and
WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus demonstrated His love for children by encouraging them to follow Him, correcting those who hindered them, and condemning those who harmed them (Matthew 18:3–6; Mark 10:13–14); and
WHEREAS, The sexual abuse of children remains an ever increasing criminal offense with more than 1.8 million reported victims of sexual abuse by more than 750,000 child abuse perpetrators identified in the United States alone; and
WHEREAS, Tragically, instances of sexual abuse have been perpetrated within Southern Baptist congregations, churches of other denominations, and other Christian ministries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Houston, Texas, June 11–12, 2013, call upon Southern Baptists to stand with our Lord Jesus in loving and protecting children as He does; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we remind all Southern Baptists of their legal and moral responsibility to report any child abuse to authorities in addition to implementing any appropriate church discipline or internal restoration processes; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we likewise call upon all Southern Baptists to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in exposing and bringing to justice all perpetrators, sexual or otherwise, who criminally harm children placed in our trust; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly urge Southern Baptist churches to utilize background checks like those provided through LifeWay Christian Resources (www.lifeway.com/backgroundchecks), databases of sexual predators such as the US Department of Justice sex offender database linked at SBC.net (www.SBC.net/localchurches/ministryhelp.asp), or other relevant resources in screening all potential staff and volunteer workers, particularly those who minister to children and youth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors and church leaders to develop and implement sound policies and procedures to protect our children; and be it [further]
“RESOLVED: that we encourage all denominational leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention to utilize the highest sense of discernment in affiliating with groups and/or individuals that possess questionable policies and practices in protecting our children from criminal abuse; and be it finally”
RESOLVED, That we urge all Southern Baptists to pray for children who are victims of abuse, to stand for their protection from abuse, and to support safe and healthy children’s ministries in our churches and communities.
As I indicated, the amendment overwhelmingly passed. Here is a video Joe Donahue captured of my speaking to the motion to amend. Included also is North Carolina pastor, Tim Rogers defending the motion to amend. Thanks Joe for the video!
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