WHEREAS, Southern Baptists as evangelical Christians have a major responsibility for the Christian witness both in the homeland and around the world, and
WHEREAS, The progress made toward an easing of racial tensions and a Christian solution does not match the extreme urgency reflected in current crises, and
WHEREAS, Paul in his letter to the Colossians (3:11) says “There cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all,” therefore
Be it RESOLVED, By the messengers assembled in this 108th session of the Southern Baptist Convention that we:
1. Rededicate ourselves in the spirit of Christ to a ministry of reconciliation among all men.
2. Remind ourselves that all men stand as equals at the foot of the cross without distinction for color.
3. Pledge ourselves to provide positive leadership in our communities, seeking through conciliation and understanding to obtain peaceful compliance with laws assuring equal rights for all. We further pledge ourselves to go beyond these laws in the practice of Christian love.
197. Richard W. Luebbert (Ala.) moved to amend Resolution 4 by adding the following paragraph between the second and third “Whereas.”
WHEREAS, We deplore the open and premeditated violation of civil laws, the destruction of property, the shedding of human blood, or the taking of life as a means of influencing legislation or changing the social and cultural patterns.