1997 SBCV Book of Reports, pp. 11-12

RESOLUTION ON A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO HOMOSEXUALITY

WHEREAS God, who is both the Moral Ruler of the universe and the Creator of all that is, and who knows and understands the physical and psychological composition of all and every human life better than any human scientist will ever know it, has stated in Scripture that homosexual conduct is always an abomination for all human beings, both men and women, in all circumstances, without exception (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13); and

WHEREAS God makes it clear in Scripture that even a desire to engage in a homosexual relationship is always sinful, impure, degrading, shameful, unnatural, indecent, and perverted (Romans 1:24-27); and

WHEREAS, in contrast, marriage is established in the order of creation to be a permanent union of one man with one woman (Genesis 1:28, 2:24), and marriage is therefore first and foremost a divine institution (Matthew 19:6) and only secondarily a cultural and civil institution; and

WHEREAS homosexual practice dramatically injures not only the spiritual but also the physical health of its victims with scientific study demonstrating that the median age at death of homosexual men with AIDS is only 39 years and of homosexual men without AIDS is only 42, compared to 75 for married, nondivorced men, and

WHEREAS American "culture" today promotes homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, with even many government and public school programs participating, and

WHEREAS the Southern Baptist Convention has repeatedly stated its abhorrence of homosexuality, through resolutions at the annual meetings in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, and 1996, and

WHEREAS Christians are called upon to confront sin in themselves and others to the glory of God and the salvation of souls, which is the ultimate good of the sinner himself,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia call upon all Southern Baptists to pray continuously for those enmeshed in this abhorrent practice, minister to them with Christian charity, and work fervently to bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia urge each Christian to work within our local, state, and national governments to oppose the promotion of homosexuality through governmental law and regulation, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, while recognizing the autonomy of each level of Baptist polity, express our unalterable conviction that no practicing homosexual is qualified in God's eyes to fill any responsible denominational post in any of the four levels of Baptist life.

Adopted September 16, 1996