WHEREAS, the Southern Baptist Convention has proudly worked cooperatively with the National Baptist Convention, USA., Inc., to support and lead the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville to provide pre-baccalaureate and baccalaureate studies for African-American students and in this process has celebrated the accomplishments of the seminary and its graduates; and
WHEREAS, the American Baptist Theological Seminary was established in a time of racial discrimination when African-American students were not allowed to enroll in Convention-supported seminaries, yet that time ended long ago, and at present there are significant and growing numbers of African-American students at all Southern Baptist Convention seminaries; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, June 20-22, 1995, has moved significantly forward in racial relationships by granting sole responsibility for American Baptist Theological Seminary to the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc., reflecting the Southern Baptist Conventions continuing commitment to the theological education of African-American students.
Be it therefore RESOLVED, that we, the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, June 20-22, 1995, continue to affirm and support the commitment to the theological education of African-Americans in the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries and their extension programs.