[1]On Hate Crime Legislation
WHEREAS, The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, H.R. 1592, and a similar bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate; and
WHEREAS, These bills create special protected classes of homosexual and transgendered persons; and
WHEREAS, The Bible is clear in its denunciation of homosexual behavior (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:21-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9), and upon that basis, our Founding Fathers and early laws opposed its practice in American society; and
WHEREAS, Proponents argue that the establishment of such protected classes is a civil rights issue, yet neither homosexuals nor transgendered persons constitute a class like race, ethnicity, or gender because their identity is based upon a lifestyle choice; and
[2]WHEREAS, Such hate crimes legislation violates the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law by extending special protected status to certain groups of people that is not available for others; and
WHEREAS, Such hate crimes legislation criminalizes beliefs as well as actions, creating a form of thought crime; and
WHEREAS, In many jurisdictions where such thought crimes laws have been passed, they have been used to actively punish Christians who peacefully voice their moral opposition to homosexual conduct; and
WHEREAS, Harry Hammond, an evangelical Christian in Britain, was arrested for holding a sign protesting homosexuality, and Britain's High Court ruled in 2004 that he was "properly convicted" of a criminal offense, despite the fact that he was demonstrating peacefully and was assaulted by homosexual onlookers enraged by his sign; and
WHEREAS, Hugh Owens of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, was found guilty in 2001 of "inciting hatred" by the Human Rights Commission and ordered to pay C$1,500 to three homosexual activists for publishing an advertisement quoting Bible verses about homosexuality; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Ake Green of Borgholm, Sweden, was sentenced to a month in jail in 2003 for "inciting hatred" based on that nation's hate crimes laws when he preached a grace-and truth-filled message concerning homosexuality, comparing the sins of Sweden to the sins of Sodom; and
WHEREAS, Eleven Christians in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were physically accosted by homosexual demonstrators in 2004 and yet were themselves arrested on felony counts based on hate crimes laws for lawfully and peacefully protesting and sharing the Gospel at a "gay pride" event; and
WHEREAS, Many Christian leaders and pro-family groups are alarmed at the prospect of a law in which a person's thoughts or opinions alone – particularly disapproval of homosexual behavior – would lead to federal prosecution; and
WHEREAS, The inevitable application of this legislation would abridge our First Amendment freedom of speech and thus criminalize biblical preaching and speaking truth about homosexuality, achieving a key goal of homosexual activists and their allies, which is to muzzle the church in its moral opposition to their sinful lifestyle; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express profound disappointment in the members of the U.S. House who passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly urge the members of the U.S. Senate to reject this and any other bill that creates a special protected status for certain groups, violating the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of equal protection; and be it further
RESOLVED, That if Congress passes this hate crimes bill, or any similar bill, we strongly encourage the president to veto such unconstitutional legislation because it undermines the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection guarantee, and its application poses a direct threat to the First Amendment freedom of speech of those morally opposed to homosexuality; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge all Americans to avoid acts of hatred and violence toward homosexuals and transgendered people, but to instead treat our fellow citizens with the kind of civility we would prefer to receive ourselves (Matthew 7:12); and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage all believers to love and show compassion toward homosexuals and transgendered persons, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is able to bring true freedom from error and to set free the captives of sin (John 8:34-36).
On Protecting Children from Abuse
WHEREAS, The Bible stresses the protection of and care for children, as evidenced by: its condemnation of the ancient pagan practice of child sacrifice (Leviticus 20:1-7; Ezekiel 16:20-21); its special regard for orphans in the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 24, 26); and the teaching of Jesus, who welcomed and valued little children (Matthew 18:1-5; 19:14); and
WHEREAS, Faithful Christians throughout history have risen to the defense of children, as seen in the Early Church's protest of the practice of "child exposure"-in which unwanted infants were abandoned and left to die; the work of nineteenth-century Christians such as Lord Shaftesbury and others, who campaigned against child slavery and enacted child labor laws; and the diligence of those who defend the right to life of unborn children today; and
WHEREAS, Violent physical and sexual crimes against children have reached alarming levels in our nation, thus showing child abuse to be a leading issue requiring the urgent response of God's people; and
WHEREAS, This abuse has occurred too often in churches and homes – which ought to be places of shelter and safety-and it has happened at the hands of family, educators, ordained ministers, and ministry workers – who ought to be trusted persons of authority; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2002: called Southern Baptists to practice integrity and fidelity to God; urged accountability among spiritual leaders to the highest standards of Christian moral practice; urged seminaries and related educational institutions to emphasize ministerial integrity; encouraged religious bodies to rid their ranks of predatory ministers; called on civil authorities to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors; called on our churches to discipline those guilty of any sexual abuse as well as to cooperate with civil authorities in the prosecution of those cases; and urged our churches to offer support, compassion, and biblical counseling to victims and their families; and
WHEREAS, LifeWay Christian Resources and many state conventions offer extensive resources designed to assist churches in addressing this issue; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express our deep level of moral outrage and concern at any instance of child victimization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we implore Southern Baptist churches to utilize materials from LifeWay Christian Resources and state conventions and other relevant research that help churches prevent child abuse; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly recommend that Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities respond to any suspicions or allegations of child abuse in a timely and forthright manner; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities to exercise moral stewardship by observing responsible employment practices, including performing criminal background checks on all ministers, employees, and volunteers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals who commit heinous acts against children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals, churches, or other religious bodies that cover up, ignore, or otherwise contribute to or condone the abuse of children; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we pray for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land and intercede on behalf of victimized children, asking God to heal their deep emotional and physical wounds, grow them into mature and healthy adults, and stop the cycle of abuse from repeating itself in another generation.