PRESENTED TO THE ALABAMA BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION
November 17-18, 2009
Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
RESOLUTION NO. 1
ON AFFIRMING GREAT COMMISSION MINISTRIES
WHEREAS, The mission emphasis of the Alabama Baptist
State Convention has been “One Mission, The Great
Commission; One Program, The Cooperative Program;
Many Ministries, Great Commission Ministries;” and
WHEREAS, State missionaries and associational
missionaries (Directors of Missions) enjoy a unique and
special partnership in Great Commission ministry; and
WHEREAS, The messengers of the Southern Baptist
Convention meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23-24,
2009, have approved a task force to study how we can
effectively work together in fulfilling the Great Commission;
now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, For Alabama Baptists, the Great Commission
and the Cooperative Program have been the strong mission
foundation since 1925; and
WHEREAS, When Alabama Baptists refer to One Program,
we mean the Cooperative Program - the unified budget
approach in supporting missions in Alabama, North
America, and around the world; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, praise God for the progress that
the churches of the state convention made during past
years of Great Commission ministry; and be it further
WHEREAS, At the present time, the Alabama Baptist
Convention leads all other state conventions in supporting
Southern Baptist Convention mission causes through the
Cooperative Program; and
RESOLVED, That we give praise and thanksgiving to the
Lord for His blessings on the state convention and for the
mighty work He has performed; and be it further
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
has energetically promoted Cooperative Program giving
among our churches; and
RESOLVED, That we thank the Baptist churches of
Alabama for their increased generous giving through the
Cooperative Program so that God’s Kingdom will grow
and that people will be reached for Christ in America and
throughout the world; and be it finally
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
has, through attrition, reduced its staff by 20% during the
past eleven years; and
RESOLVED, That we pledge to work with the Southern
Baptist Convention in the Great Commission partnership
to reach Alabama, North America, and the world with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
WHEREAS, The state missionaries of the Alabama Baptist
State Board of Missions have worked in close partnership
with local churches through consultations, church visits,
conferences, and other Great Commission ministry efforts; and
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 2
ON AFFIRMING THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus founded his church and
commissioned it to witness “in Jerusalem, Judea,
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) with the
life-changing, culture-transforming gospel message; and
and involvement for Baptists of Alabama and others
to help encourage and equip them to live out the
principles of Christian discipleship
3) The Board of Aid to Students in Church Related
Vocations (1883) provides assistance to students
at Samford, Judson, and Mobile who are preparing
for full-time Christian service
4) Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (1889), an
auxiliary of the State Convention, is driven by five
passions: seeking wisdom, touching lives, caring
globally, finding fellowship, and passing it on
5) Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and Family
Ministries (1892) which exists for the purpose of
providing children and family services within a
context of Christian restoration, and provides
counseling services through the Pathways network
6) The Historical Commission (1933) collects, protects,
and promotes our Baptist heritage
7) The Christian Life Commission (1936) helps inform
and educate Alabama Baptists in matters relating to
moral and ethical issues
8) ALCAP—Alabama Citizens Action Program (1937),
an auxiliary of the State Convention, serves as Alabama’s moral compass to schools, the government,
and local communities
9) The Baptist Foundation of Alabama (1940) manages
assets for Alabama Baptist churches and institutions
and promotes charitable giving to Baptist causes
and provides personal consultations, estate planning,
seminars, and materials
10) Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers (1975) minister
daily to elderly people who call one of the four
campuses of care their home
11) The Education Commission (1979) represents the
interests of Alabama Baptists and their relationship
with their three institutions of Christian higher
education
12) Shocco Springs (1999) provides a beautiful conference
center with quality accommodations designed to
enhance the worship and learning experiences of
guests. In an average year, over 45,000 people
will attend and over 1,300 decisions for Christ are
made; and
WHEREAS, Realizing the Great Commission mandate
of Acts 1:8 would require more than individual or even
single local church ministries, local Southern Baptist
churches first formed associations, then state conventions,
and finally the national Southern Baptist Convention in
order to reach people in every geographical context; and
WHEREAS, State conventions are the churches’
organizational response to reaching their “Judea”
with a comprehensive strategy for planting churches,
coordinating state-wide, multi-generational ministries,
educating undergraduates with a Christian worldview,
providing for children in need and promoting church
health initiatives; and
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Convention was
formed in 1823 to accomplish these core purposes and
was instrumental in the creation of the “Cooperative
Program” which was adopted in 1925 by the Southern
Baptist Convention as its funding methodology; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention adopted
the following definition of the Cooperative Program,
“The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ unified
plan of giving through which cooperating Southern
Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated
receipts in support of their respective state convention
and the Southern Baptist Convention missions and
ministries;”and
WHEREAS, In fulfilling their Great Commission mandate
of Acts 1:8, local churches give a portion of their undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program to the
state convention for both cooperative state ministries and
ministries adopted by the national convention; and
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Convention entities
use the Cooperative Program gifts from the churches
effectively and efficiently in accomplishing wide-ranging,
Great Commission Ministries designed and commissioned
by the churches, such as:
1) Christian Higher Education at Judson College (1838),
Samford University (1841), and the University of
Mobile (1961) which offer students a quality college
education in a distinctively Christian environment
2) The Alabama Baptist (1843), our state paper, exists
to provide information, inspiration, interpretation,
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
uses the Cooperative Program gifts from the churches
effectively and efficiently in accomplishing a wide range
of Great Commission Ministries designed and commissioned
by the churches, such as:
1) The Evangelism/Discipleship Team helps churches
to be more effective in leading the lost to Christ.
From disaster relief chaplaincy, to Christian ethics,
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 2
ON AFFIRMING THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM (continued)
to Sunday School, to collegiate ministries, to various
approaches to discipleship training, team members
are committed to helping the local church strengthen
its discipleship efforts
2) The Leadership Development Team helps churches
by training ministry and lay leaders, counseling
through times of church conflict, and addressing
worship and music
3) The Missions Mobilization Team partners with
associations in celebrating our cooperative efforts;
plans partnership events, assists in helping churches
start new churches, and telling the Cooperative
Program story
4) The Missions Support Team provides the legal,
financial, promotional, organizational, functional,
and technical support for the State Board of Missions
staff; services which insure State Board of Missions
ministries operate in a professional, proficient, and
godly manner; and assists church employees with
retirement, salary/benefit, and tax information; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, praise God for the progress that
the churches of the state convention made during past
years of Cooperative Program giving; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Convention affirm the value and
accomplishments of the various ministries of the Alabama
Baptist State Board of Missions; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we applaud and pray for the State
Board of Missions staff who are fulfilling their mission of
being catalysts that ignite a passion for Jesus and His
kingdom, who strengthen the churches of the state
convention, and who are conduits for accomplishing
Great Commission Ministries; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we acknowledge that Cooperative
Program dollars given by Alabama Baptist State
Convention churches are managed prudently, and
allocated consistently with our vision for comprehensively
and simultaneously reaching our state, nation, and the
world; and be it finally
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
has led in giving more dollars through the Cooperative
Program than any other state convention of the Southern
Baptist Convention; and
RESOLVED, That we pray that God will use the Alabama
Baptist State Convention, the State Board of Missions, and
its supporting churches mightily as we seek to carry out
the Great Commission mandate of Acts 1:8, to evangelize
and disciple the people of Alabama, our Judea, to the
glory of Jesus Christ.
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
has given 10 percent of the total dollars through the
Cooperative Program from all state conventions of the
Southern Baptist Convention; now, therefore, be it
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 3
ON BINGO GAMBLING (as amended)
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Convention has
historically opposed every form of gambling based on the
Bible (Proverbs l0:4, 13:11, 15:27, 21:6; Exodus 20:15, 17); and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, reaffirm our opposition to
electronic bingo gambling at any location in the State
of Alabama; and be it further
WHEREAS, The Alabama Baptist State Convention
believes that all forms of gambling adversely affect
individuals, families, and society; and
RESOLVED, That we call upon Alabama Baptist pastors
to inform and educate each congregation on the evils of
gambling; and be it further
WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 65 of the Alabama
Constitution prohibits games of chance; and
RESOLVED, That we call upon the Alabama Legislature
in its 2010 regular session to oppose any legislation that
would permit or expand gambling of any type, including
charity bingo, at any location in the State of Alabama;
and be it further
WHEREAS, by Constitutional amendment eighteen
counties have legalized limited charity bingo for the
benefit of nonprofit charitable organizations and for
no other purpose; and
WHEREAS, local governing bodies have used such
amendments as a means of allowing pervasive and
unlawful electronic bingo gambling to proliferate in
these counties; and
RESOLVED, That we applaud and support Governor
Bob Riley and the task force led by retired District
Attorney David Barber, for their dedicated efforts to
stop the proliferation of this unlawful gambling through
every legal means possible; and be it finally
WHEREAS, Governor Bob Riley has appointed a task
force to combat this unlawful gambling; and
RESOLVED, A copy of this resolution be sent to Governor
Bob Riley, Mr. David Barber, Attorney General Troy King,
Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr., House Speaker
Seth Hammett, each Alabama Legislator, and to all news
media in the State of Alabama.
WHEREAS, The Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled
that the electronic bingo machines currently operating in
Alabama do not meet the definition of the traditional
game of bingo; now therefore, be it
RESOLUTION NO. 4
ON APPRECIATION FOR ANDREW W. TAMPLING (as amended)
WHEREAS, Dr. Andrew W. Tampling was a trusted and
beloved pastor and denominational servant for many
years; and
State Convention, and the Board of Directors for The
Alabama Baptist; and
WHEREAS, He served as a trustee of the North American
Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention; and
WHEREAS, He served the First Baptist Church of Opp,
First Baptist Church of Sylacauga, and First Baptist
Church of Birmingham as pastor; and
WHEREAS, He died on October 30, 2009, after a long
illness; now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, He was the first Executive Director of the
Alabama Baptist Retirement Centers, Inc., and served
energetically through those early years; and
WHEREAS, He was a mentor and friend to many young
pastors in our state; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, affirm the life and ministry of
Andrew Tampling and express deep appreciation for
his service to this Convention; and be it finally
WHEREAS, He served on the State Board of Missions
and the Executive Committee of the Alabama Baptist
RESOLVED, That we pray for his wife, Bobbie, and his
family and express our condolences to them.
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 5
ON APPRECIATION FOR NOXIE “BUSTER” TAYLOR
WHEREAS, In 1979, Noxie “Buster” Taylor began work
at Shocco Springs, located in Talladega, Alabama, and
on March 1, 1989, was named Interim Director of
Shocco Springs in preparation for the retirement of
Dr. George Ricker; and
WHEREAS, He has led by example in a spirit of cooperation
and inclusion with his staff and Alabama Baptists in fulfilling
the Great Commission; and
WHEREAS, He remains unswerving in his commitment to
Christ, Shocco Springs, Alabama Baptists, and Christians
around our world; now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the beginning of a
fourth decade of his employment and subsequently his
leadership as the Executive Director of Shocco Springs; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, first express our gratitude to
God for leading us to elect Buster Taylor as the Executive
Director of Shocco Springs; and be it further
WHEREAS, We recognize the call of God on his life, his
unique gifting, love of people, and passion for this position
and place; and
WHEREAS, His commitment to Jesus Christ, Shocco Springs,
and Alabama Baptists has been clearly demonstrated far
beyond the borders of Alabama; and
RESOLVED, That we call upon all Alabama Baptists to
pray for God’s continued blessings and guidance upon
Buster Taylor and the ministry of Shocco Springs; and be
it finally
WHEREAS, Under his ever-watchful eye and steady
hand Shocco Springs has boldly lived out its mission to
“provide a distinctly Christian environment for spiritual
transformation and renewal;” and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama Baptist
State Convention affirm their support of and appreciation
for Buster Taylor as he continues to provide consistent
and exemplary leadership to Shocco Springs.
WHEREAS, The values of people, integrity, and excellence
have guided decision making for guests, property, buildings,
and endowments; and
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 6
ON APPRECIATION FOR THOMAS E. CORTS
WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas E. Corts was a trusted colleague
to all involved in Christian higher education throughout
his adult life; and
WHEREAS, He and his wife, Marla, served as faithful
Baptist laypeople at the Brookwood Baptist Church in
Birmingham; and
WHEREAS, He had a distinguished career as executive
vice-president of Georgetown College, president of Wingate
College and president of Samford University for twentythree years, and
WHEREAS, Christian higher education and all Alabama
Baptists lost a good friend at his death on February 3, 2009;
and
WHEREAS, The Education Commission of the Alabama
Baptist State Convention, at its meeting on May 19, 2009,
at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, expressed
their gratitude for the life and contributions of Thomas Corts;
now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, Dr. Corts extended his influence through
service as chairman of the Commission on Colleges of
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and
as president of SACS, the American Association of
Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities,
and the Association of Baptist Colleges; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, affirm the expressions of gratitude
by the Education Commission for the life and ministry of
Thomas Corts and give thanks for his significant contribution
to Samford University and the Alabama Baptist State
Convention.
WHEREAS, He served honorably in retirement as interim
chancellor of the Community College System of the state
of Alabama, and then as coordinator of President George
W. Bush’s “Initiative to Expand Education” and later as
coordinator of basic education in the United States State
Department’s Office of the Director of Foreign Assistance
helping to provide aid to four million school children in
Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Liberia, Mali and Yemen; and
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 8
ON APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, The messengers to the Alabama Baptist
State Convention enjoyed a time of encouragement,
worship, unity, and the Spirit’s direction; and
WHEREAS, We especially thank the Whitesburg Baptist
Church for the use of their facilities, services of every
kind, and their support and hospitality; and
WHEREAS, The emphasis has been on “Across Alabama,”
a plan to reach more people for Christ during 2010 and
2011; and
WHEREAS, We express gratitude for the various
committees, Convention speakers, musicians, and
other platform personalities; now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, We thank God for the outstanding leadership
of our president, Dr. Jimmy Jackson, vice presidents
Dr. Mike Shaw and Dr. John Killian, along with other
officers of the Convention; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, express our profound gratitude
to God and to those whom He used to bring about
Convention sessions characterized by God’s leadership.
WHEREAS, We acknowledge the Lord’s presence and
blessings on our Convention; and
WHEREAS, We appreciate the Madison Baptist Association,
the area churches, and the ministers of those churches
having played a significant role in making this Convention
a success; and
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Whitesburg Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Baptist State Convention
RESOLUTION NO. 7
ON THE BAPTIST HERITAGE
WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of
the beginning of the modern Baptist movement at Amsterdam
in 1609 when a group of English Separatist refugees, fleeing
religious persecution in their home country, created a
community of faith whose worship and life together reflected
the New Testament pattern of a believers’ church; and
WHEREAS, Since 1925 Baptists in Alabama, along with
many other Baptists throughout the Southern Baptist
Convention, have worked together through the Cooperative
Program to spread the message of Christ at home and
abroad so that lost souls would be saved, the Lordship of
Christ extended over all areas of life, and God glorified in
ever increasing measure; and
WHEREAS, For more than 200 years Baptist believers in
Alabama have gathered in local congregations to worship
and serve Christ, and have worked together to further the
cause of the Gospel through associations and, since 1823,
through the work of the Alabama Baptist State Convention;
and
WHEREAS, In recent decades there has been a loss of
emphasis on the Baptist heritage leading to a lack of focus
or even crisis of Baptist identity within Baptist churches
generally and among the rising generation in particular;
now, therefore, be it
WHEREAS, Baptists through the centuries have maintained
a distinctive witness on behalf of religious liberty, not only
for themselves but for all persons made in the image of
God, and have declared, even at the cost of harassment,
persecution, and death, that God alone is the Lord of the
conscience; and
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Alabama
Baptist State Convention meeting in Huntsville, Alabama,
November 17-18, 2009, express our gratitude to God for
our Baptist heritage, remembering with thanksgiving those
pioneers of the Baptist way, especially those who at great
personal cost, stood with courage for religious liberty for all
persons, along with others who have given their very lives
for the sake of the Gospel; and be it further
WHEREAS, Baptist Christians have clearly proclaimed
their belief in the Bible, the inspired and totally truthful
Word of God, which is the only rule of faith and practice;
and
RESOLVED, We commend the Alabama Baptist Historical
Commission and Alabama Baptist educational institutions
for the important work they do in collecting documents
related to the Baptist heritage, sponsoring publications,
conferences, and workshops on Baptist history, and for
including in their curricular offerings courses that emphasize
the history and vitality of Baptist communities of faith large
and small; and be it further
WHEREAS, Baptists, together with all other Bible-believing
Christians, confess their faith in the one true God of holiness
and love, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the God who
created the world and sustains it by his providence, the
God who out of love for lost men and women became
incarnate in the virgin-born Jesus whose sinless life,
substitutionary death on the cross, glorious resurrection,
triumphant ascension, and certain return in glory is the
hope of the world and who is himself the Way, the Truth,
and the Life, the sole and all-sufficient Savior for all
persons everywhere; and
RESOLVED, That we pray for the worldwide Baptist family
who share with us a like precious faith, and that we stand
in solidarity with all Baptists who serve Christ in difficult
and dangerous places, and that we seek actively to manifest
the unity we share as brothers and sisters in Christ so that
the world may see our love for one another and believe
the Gospel we proclaim; and be it further
WHEREAS, Baptist congregations have gathered themselves
into covenanted congregations of regenerated believers
emphasizing the ordinance of baptism set forth in the
New Testament, which is the baptism of believers on the
basis of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
and celebrating the Lord’s Supper as an act of love and
communion with Christ; and
RESOLVED, We call upon Alabama Baptist pastors to
lead in recognitions of the Baptist heritage in their
congregations, including the observance of a “Baptist
Heritage Sunday” and other events where Baptist history,
polity, and theology can be taught and learned by all
generations in the church; and be it finally
WHEREAS, Baptists have led the way in sharing the
message of Jesus Christ and salvation through him to the
uttermost parts of the earth following in the footsteps of the
shoemaker-pastor William Carey, “the father of modern
missions,” and other great heroes of the missionary cause
including Adoniram and Anne Judson, Luther Rice, Lottie
Moon, Annie Armstrong, Bill Wallace, Martha Myers, and
many others; and
RESOLVED, That we rededicate ourselves to the
cherished principles of our Baptist heritage, praying for
spiritual renewal among our churches and within our
denomination, to the end that the Gospel of Christ will
continue to go forth from us in all sincerity, integrity, and
authenticity, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and
for generations to come.
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