1997 BGAV Resolution on Abortion
by T. C. Pinckney Vol. XI, No. 1, January 1998
The Baptist General Association of Virginia met in Roanoke 11-12 November and
"reaffirmed" the following resolution on abortion passed by the Southern Baptist
Convention in June 1976:
"Whereas, Southern Baptists have historically held a biblical view of the sanctity of human life, and
"Whereas, abortion is a very serious moral and spiritual problem of continuing concern to the American people, and
"Whereas, Christians have a responsibility to deal with all moral and spiritual issues which affect society, including the problems of abortion, and
"Whereas, the practice of abortion for selfish non-therapeutic reasons wantonly destroys fetal life, dulls our society's moral sensitivity, and leads to a cheapening of all human life,
"Therefore, be it resolved, that the messengers of the 174th Baptist General Association of Virginia meeting in Roanoke in November 1997, reaffirm the biblical sacredness and dignity of all human life, including fetal life, and
"Be it further resolved, that in the best interest of our society, we reject any indiscriminate attitude toward abortion, as contrary to the biblical view, and
"Be it further resolved, that we also affirm our conviction about the limited role
of government in dealing with matters relating to abortion, and support the right of
expectant mothers to the full range of medical services and personal counseling for
the preservation of life and health." [Italics added.]
There are several things to note about this resolution. First, it was passed by the SBC
in 1976, three years before the first conservative victory in the epic battle for the soul
of the Southern Baptist Convention, while "moderates" were still firmly in
control. Surely no one believes such wording would pass the SBC now. Second, the portions
italicized above reflect major problems. (1) To say that "the practice of abortion
for selfish, non-therapeutic reasons wantonly destroys fetal life" clearly conveys
that other abortions are for unselfish, therapeutic reasons and do not wantonly destroy
babies. Studies have shown that cases in which the life of the mother is at stake do occur
but comprise far less than one percent of abortions. (2) To "reject any
indiscriminate attitude toward abortion as contrary to the biblical view" also
connotes that the Bible approves of discriminate views of abortion. Such is not the case.
Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea,
seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that
shed innocent blood,...
(3) In the resolution the BGAV "support[s] the right of expectant mothers to the full range of medical services and personal counseling for the preservation of life and health..." But "full range" includes killing the baby. No human being can be more innocent than an unborn baby, and God hates the shedding of innocent blood. These portions of the BGAV resolution (and, of course, of the 1976 SBC resolution) are contrary to God's Word.
So that readers may contrast the positions of the "new" SBC and of the SBCV,
reprinted below are the 1991 SBC resolution opposing abortion, followed by the 16
September 1996 resolution passed unanimously by messengers to the Southern Baptist
Conservatives of Virginia founding meeting.
SBC Resolution - On Sanctity of Human Life
WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that God holds human life to be sacred and created human beings in His own image; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have historically affirmed biblical teaching regarding the sanctity of human life by adopting numerous pro-life resolutions at the national, state, and local levels; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 1.6 million unborn babies are killed each year in America as a result of the 1973 decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade; and
WHEREAS, In 1989 the Supreme Court began the dismantlement of the Roe decision by upholding a Missouri pro-life statute in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the Webster decision, states now have more flexibility to regulate and restrict the practice of abortion; and
WHEREAS, The Supreme Court is likely to erode or overturn the Roe decision in the near future; and
WHEREAS, Legislation has been introduced in the United States Congress which would codify and expand the Roe abortion rights and thereby restrict the rights of states to regulate abortions within their borders; and
WHEREAS, Pro-abortion legislators in Congress are also attempting to repeal restrictions on federal abortion funding; and
WHEREAS, New drugs and technologies, including RU-486, which will make the practice of abortion easier, are being researched and used in other nations and abortion advocates are attempting to bring these technologies to America; and
WHEREAS, Some scientists in America are experimenting with the tissues of babies from induced abortions in order to find cures to certain diseases and are working to repeal the ban on federal government research on fetal tissue transplantation; Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, June 4-6, 1991, affirm the biblical prohibition against the taking of unborn human life except to save the life of the mother; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists to work for the adoption of pro-life legislation in their respective states which would expand protection for unborn babies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists to work with equal fervor to compassionately encourage and assist girls and women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies to carry their children to term and to prepare for the best life possible for their children; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we oppose all efforts by the United States Congress to limit the fights of states to restrict abortion-on-demand and call upon Congress to maintain current pro-life policies which prohibit the use of federal funds to encourage, promote, or perform abortions except to save the life of the mother, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we oppose the testing, approval, distribution, and marketing in America of new drugs and technologies which will make the practice of abortion more convenient and more widespread; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we support the current federal government ban on funding
any transplantation of tissue from induced abortions for purposes of experimentation and
research and call on the federal government to maintain the ban despite pressure from the
scientific community and pro-abortion organizations.
SBCV Resolution on Abortion
WHEREAS God states in His perfect Word that He hates the shedding of innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17); and
WHEREAS abortion on demand continues at a phenomenal rate; and
WHEREAS President Clinton refused to sign a bill barring partial birth abortions; and
WHEREAS all abortion clearly puts babies to death;
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, resolve to educate our members and society about the injustice and sinfulness of abortion; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will encourage our members to be educated and informed about the position that elected officials take on abortion: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will encourage our members to support those candidates for public office who are committed to pro-life positions; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we as individuals, churches, and a fellowship will start
and/or support ministries that serve unwed mothers and save babies' lives.
The differences between the SBC & SBCV resolutions on the one hand and the BGAV resolution on the other are obvious. While calling on all Southern Baptists "to compassionately encourage and assist" those with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies, the SBC resolution forthrightly "affirm[s] the biblical prohibition against the taking of unborn human life except to save the life of the mother,". The SBCV resolution quotes Proverbs 6:16-17 and states that "all abortion clearly puts babies to death;".
These three resolutions provide very clear evidence of the different positions of the BGAV vs. the SBC and SBCV.