RESOLUTION 1: ON CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, The Louisiana Baptist Convention was established to “provide the means through which Louisiana Baptist churches and members can cooperate in bringing persons to God” within our state; and
WHEREAS, The Louisiana Baptist Convention “recognizes the Southern Baptist Convention as the primary instrument used by Baptists to further the cause of Christ on a worldwide basis”; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana Baptists have a special historical relationship with the Cooperative Program in that M.E. Dodd was a Louisiana Baptist pastor when he led the 1925 effort to establish the “Co-Operative Program of Southern Baptists,” making it possible for churches to support the missionary, education, and benevolent work within their respective states while cooperating with churches from other states to reach the world; and
WHEREAS, In 2025 our Baptist fellowship of national entities, state conventions and local associations across the United States will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Cooperative Program for how it has supported our global “partnership in the Gospel” (Philippians 1:5); now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 177th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Shreveport, Louisiana, November 12, 2024, express gratitude to God for His providential guidance in the creation of the Cooperative Program and for 100 years of His multiplied blessings through this primary channel of financial support for Baptist cooperative missions and ministries; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we celebrate each Louisiana Baptist congregation who, in addition to their own missions activities, supports the missions and ministries of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention by generous giving through the Cooperative Program; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we affirm the Cooperative Program “as the most effective [financial] means of mobilizing our churches and extending our outreach”; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we commit ourselves to the celebration and promotion of the Cooperative Program within our churches, associations, and entities during 2025 to honor God’s favor to our cooperative missions and ministries through the Cooperative Program for the past 100 years.
RESOLUTION 2: ON SUPPORT OF VOLUNTEER CHAPLAINS IN SCHOOLS
WHEREAS, Children have been entrusted to parents by the Lord and represent our nation’s future and our spiritual legacy; and
WHEREAS, God has given parents the responsibility for the upbringing and education of our children (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7); and
WHEREAS, God has ordained the state to promote good and restrain evil, thereby cultivating the conditions necessary for the flourishing of children and families which are not defined by arbitrary or subjective moral claims, but by basic moral goods rooted in the character of God (1 Peter 2:14); and
WHEREAS, The state has established a public education system as one means for promoting the general welfare of the people, mandating school attendance, in general, for children between the ages of six and 18 years old; and
WHEREAS, Mandatory attendance establishes schools as mission and ministry fields (Matthew 28:18-20), providing opportunities to support and strengthen fellow followers (1 Thess. 5:11) as well as to allow God to make His appeal through us to the lost (2 Cor. 5:20); and
WHEREAS, Research shows that religious support has a positive effect on students by reducing suicides, alcohol use and drug use, as well as promoting higher self-esteem, academic achievement and educational attainment, while also improving adolescent mental health; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Mark Abraham, a faithful member of Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, championed a bill to authorize schools to employ or otherwise accept as a volunteer a certified chaplain who has been vetted through state and federal databases; and
WHEREAS, He testified that 15 states already were engaged in similar initiatives and that two other states had passed similar legislation to begin soon, noting that “In these 30,000 schools, teen pregnancies are drastically down; suicides are zero; and it [chaplain program] has been helping with mental illness – not only for the students, but also for the teachers”; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 177th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Shreveport, Louisiana, November 12, 2024, commend Sen. Abraham for his wisdom in pushing through the legislation process this authorization to voluntarily make available a crucial spiritual resource in our schools; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage our LBC Executive Board to include chaplaincy certification in the existing disaster relief chaplains training program to certify Louisiana Baptists to volunteer in this school chaplain program; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we urge our congregations to support the voluntary chaplain program in their neighborhood schools along with other programs that give them access to share the love of Christ in these vital mission fields.
RESOLUTION 3: ON AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
WHEREAS, The Bible describes each individual as being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and affirms the sanctity and dignity of all human life (Psalm 8:4–5); and
WHEREAS, God calls upon believers to speak up for those who cannot defend themselves (Proverbs 31:8–9); and
WHEREAS, Scripture condemns slave traders as ungodly and sinful (1 Timothy 1:8-10); and
WHEREAS, Despite having some of the strictest laws against forced labor and sexual exploitation in the nation, human trafficking in Louisiana has surged from “206 confirmed and prospective victims” in 2015 to “1,615 confirmed and suspected victims” in 2023, with a 57 percent increase in just the last year; and
WHEREAS, Eighty-six percent of the 2023 human trafficking victims were sex trafficked and 83 percent were juveniles; and
WHEREAS, The National Football League’s Super Bowl LIX has been scheduled to be held February 9, 2025, in the Caesars Superdome of New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, There is evidence such sports championships attract human traffickers seeking to profit from sexual exploitation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 177th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Shreveport, Louisiana, November 12, 2024, restate our condemnation of human trafficking; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage our Louisiana Baptist congregations, especially those located along the I-10 and I-20 corridors and in metropolitan areas, to educate their congregants about the signs to recognize victims of sex slavery and forced labor; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we challenge Louisiana Baptists to make February 9, 2025, a day of special prayer emphasis for the protection, rescue and restoration of victims of human trafficking; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we urge our state cooperative ministries to coordinate with national cooperative ministries as well as with state and federal law enforcement agencies to help rescue victims from human trafficking situations related to Super Bowl LIX such that these women and children see the love of Christ in action, hear the Gospel of salvation and seek hope in Him.
RESOLUTION 4: ON EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, Many individuals and groups have had a part in planning, preparing and conducting the 177th annual meeting of our Louisiana Baptist Convention; and
WHEREAS, The messengers of this Convention desire to warmly recognize and express appreciation to the following:
Dr. Chuck Pourciau, pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, as well as the staff and the congregation, for their assistance with details and for providing the use of their facilities for this annual meeting; and
Dr. David Goza, Convention president, and pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, for his warm, gracious spirit in leading, speaking and listening to Louisiana Baptists this year, and his gentle firmness in moderating this annual meeting; and
Jefferson Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, for their commitment to sharing the Gospel in our state by graciously supporting Dr. Goza’s leadership of all the churches of the Louisiana Baptist Convention this past year; and
Tyler Hennessee, music director for this annual meeting, who is a member with Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, for planning and coordinating the music, and the musicians and singers for their contribution of instrumental and vocal talents; and
Ronnie McLellan, chairman of the Committee on Order of Business, and pastor of First Baptist Church, Marrero, and the members of the Committee on Order of Business for planning this informative and inspirational annual meeting; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 177th session of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, meeting in Shreveport, Louisiana, November 12, 2024, express to each of the above, and to all who contributed our deepest heartfelt gratitude.
