NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–The 10-paragraph resolution adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee Sept. 19 affirming the SBC’s six seminaries states:
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RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR SOUTHERN BAPTIST SEMINARIES.
WHEREAS, The six seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention have been unfairly criticized and threatened with withdrawal of support by certain leaders in the Baptist General Convention of Texas; and
WHEREAS, The seminaries continue to faithfully discharge their responsibilities to the Lord and Southern Baptists; and
WHEREAS, They are committed to the inerrancy of the Bible which is the foundation of their doctrinal confessions including The Baptist Faith and Message; and
WHEREAS, They provide effective, broad-based, quality theological education for the benefit of the churches; and
WHEREAS, The enrollment of God-called ministers and missionaries continues to increase with a total student head count at the six seminaries now in excess of 12,000; and
WHEREAS, These students are involved in hands-on evangelism, church planting, and missions as an integral part of their seminary experience; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptist seminaries train these students at a financial cost far below the average of other seminaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 18-19, 2000, affirms the six seminaries for their faithful ministry and promises to take all appropriate steps to insure continued financial support for their staffs, faculties, and students; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention commends the seminaries to the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and encourages the churches to remain steadfast in their care for the seminaries; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention encourages the Baptist General Convention of Texas to reject the unwarranted and unfair attacks upon the seminaries and to defeat the proposal that seeks to remove their funding.
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