Among the nine resolutions adopted by the nearly 1,075 registered messengers to the annual meeting of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, meeting in Columbia Nov. 15, were statements expressing their support for a state constitutional amendment on marriage and the teaching of intelligent design in public schools and their opposition to human embryonic research.
In asserting the urgency of voting for the proposed constitutional amendment on marriage in the 2006 general election, South Carolina Baptists not only committed themselves to pray for passage of legislation opposing legalization of same-sex marriage, they also urged Christians “to strengthen their bonds of love and commitment to their children and to model biblical marriage in the home.”
Maintaining that the education of our South Carolina public school students should expose them to alternatives to the Theory of Evolution, the messengers expressed support for the teaching of Intelligent Design, which attributes creation to a higher power.
They also called upon President Bush and Congress to uphold the existing ban on the use of tax dollars to support stem cell research that requires the destruction of human embryos, while encouraging the development of alternative treatments.
Commending South Carolina Baptists who have already been engaged in giving, going and helping those affected by recent hurricanes, the messengers resolved to encourage others to “be ready for, and responsive to, opportunities afforded by disaster relief ministry to share Jesus Christ – in the wake of these natural disasters.”
Messengers also expressed pride and strong support for our American military while eagerly anticipating the day when the troops can return home, and they encouraged all South Carolina Baptists to pray regularly for the President and to stand with him in opposing global terrorism.
In other approved resolutions, the messengers noted the 80th anniversary of the Cooperative Program and called on every church to “systematically increase” its CP giving; recommitted their churches to the SCBC’s Empowering Kingdom Growth emphasis and to spiritual awakening in South Carolina; and affirmed that believers should possess, maintain and express a Christian world view in every area of life. They also expressed their appreciation to the city of Columbia for its hospitality to South Carolina Baptists during their 185th annual meeting.