Below is the complete content of the resolutions from the 2023 Summit in Chattanooga.
Resolution on the Persecution of Christians in the Middle East
Tennessee Baptist Convention
Chattanooga, 2023
WHEREAS, Christians in the Middle East from all backgrounds are marginalized, persecuted, and denied the same basic rights as other citizens; and
WHEREAS, The exercise of religious freedom most certainly should pertain to all Christians, who have been subjected to increasing persecution, criticism, ridicule, and contempt simply because they are Christians; and
WHEREAS, This kind of selective persecution of Christians is unfair and clearly targeted at them by the political and religious systems in place at this time; and
WHEREAS, This threat is not limited to but includes economic discrimination, the constant threat of being driven from their home, land confiscation, and even physical attacks, torture, and losing their lives; and
WHEREAS, Baptists came to America to seek religious liberty and the free exercise of religion, and this necessarily includes the liberty to honor God in word and deed without fear of persecution or threat of violence; and
WHEREAS, The suppression of Christian religious expression in the Middle East is destructive of religious liberty in the very heart of where it all began and violates everything we believe as followers of Christ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That we, the messengers to the 2023 annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, decry any use of any and all violence or collective punishment used to discriminate against any believers in the Middle East targeting his or her Christian beliefs and practices or the free exercise thereof; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we declare our support for all Christians in the Middle East and support their full and free exercise of religious liberty as we here in America experience under the Constitution of the United States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strenuously object to the growing anti-Christian bias in the Middle East regardless of their ethnic background and we call on the legal systems there to respect all their citizens’ rights and for Christians to be treated with the respect and dignity afforded them by God; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That as followers of Christ Jesus we understand Scripture’s teaching that those who “seek to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), we call upon Tennessee Baptists to pray for those who are suffering persecution and ridicule for their commitment to the Lord and to seek to support them in all ways possible.
Presented by: Travis Tyler, Messenger of Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton
Resolution on Support for Israel
Tennessee Baptist Convention
Chattanooga, 2023
WHEREAS, On October 7, 2023 Hamas carried out an unprovoked attack from the Gaza Strip on the nation of Israel; and
WHEREAS, This attack not only gave no regard for civilians but in fact actually targeted civilians, taking many as hostages and killing many more; and
WHEREAS, Such brutality defies human dignity and is abhorrent regardless of who the perpetrators or victims may be; and
WHEREAS, The nation of Israel, though constantly maligned and its very existence threatened, has the right to defend itself just as any other nation; and
WHEREAS, The Lord Promised Abraham in Genesis 12:3: “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (KJV); and
WHEREAS, Psalms122:6 teaches us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and
WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated to us that we should pray for our enemies; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That we, the Tennessee Baptist Convention, gathered at the annual meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 14 – 15, 2023 condemn in the strongest terms possible, the atrocities conducted against Israel in this current conflict by Hamas, and any other nation or organization that may come against Israel; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we adhere to the teachings of Scripture to bless Israel and commit to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, all its inhabitants, and the nation of Israel; and be it further
RESOLVED, That though we recognize this conflict is on a national level, we must also pray for the well-being of many individuals on both sides who know Jesus and are our brothers and sisters, and that their testimony of faith in Christ would be clear and strong in these trying times; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we also pray for the many individuals involved in this conflict that do not yet know Christ, knowing that our God can bring good out of evil and glorify Himself even in the midst of such tragedy, that they too would come to a saving faith in Jesus; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we call upon our state and national leaders to remain steadfast in their support for Israel.
Presented by: Robbie Leach, Messenger of Beech Park Missionary Baptist Church, Oliver Springs
Resolution on Recognizing and Honoring the Significant Role of Women in Both the Bible and in Baptist Life
Tennessee Baptist Convention
Chattanooga, 2023
WHEREAS, The Bible exhorts us to give “honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7) and the Bible itself gives honor to women for their fear of the Lord, their faithfulness, their service, and their significant role in salvation history (Proverbs 31:30; Hebrews 11:1, 31, 35); and
WHEREAS, Women played a significant role in the life of God’s people in the Old Testament, with Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel serving as matriarchs of God’s covenant people (Genesis 21:1-7; 25:19-26; 29:31-30:24), Shiphrah and Puah preserving the lives of the Hebrew infants (Exodus 1:15–20), Miriam leading the Hebrew women to sing of their redemption (Exodus 15:20–21), Rahab hiding the spies and saving her family from divine judgment (Joshua 6:22–25), Deborah serving as a judge (Judges 4:4–9), Jael delivering Israel from Sisera (Judges 4:17–22), Ruth entrusting herself to the providence of God and helping advance the Messianic line (Ruth 1:16-17; 4:18-22), Hannah praying for and dedicating her child to God (1 Samuel 1:10–11), Huldah prophesying of divine judgment and mercy (2 Chronicles 34:22–28), and Esther risking her own life for the sake of God’s people (Esther 4:16); and
WHEREAS, Women played a significant role during the life and ministry of Jesus, with Mary submitting herself as a willing servant and providing Him maternal care (Luke 1:38; 2:51), Anna declaring the arrival of the Messiah (Luke 2:36–38), and many women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome, following Jesus and financially supporting His earthly ministry (Mark 15:40–41), remaining with Him through His crucifixion (Matthew 27:55–56), and serving as the original witnesses to His resurrection (Matthew 28:1–10); and
WHEREAS, Women played a significant role in the early church, with Lois and Eunice cultivating a godly legacy in the family (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:14–15), Phoebe serving the church and contributing to its mission (Romans 16:1–2), Lydia and Priscilla opening their homes for the gathering of the church (Acts 16:14–15, 40; 1 Corinthians 16:19), Priscilla supporting the apostles and clarifying Christian doctrine (Acts 18:18, 26), Euodia and Syntyche serving as co-laborers with Paul (Philippians 4:2–3), Philip’s daughters prophesying (Acts 21:9), and women receiving the command to pass on the faith through the generations (Titus 2:3–5); and
WHEREAS, Women have played a significant role in Baptist life, with women such as Ann Judson, Henrietta Hall Shuck, and Charlotte H. White being sent out among the earliest missionaries commissioned by the Triennial Convention, and Southern Baptist women such as Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, Sallie Holmes, Sarah Rohrer, Lula Whilden, and many others laboring for the sake of the gospel; and
WHEREAS, Baptist women such as Nancy Potter, Mavis Pate, Gladys Hopewell, Libby Senter, Rachel Senter, Mary Anna Gilbert, Lynda Bethea, Martha Myers, Kathy Gariety, Jean Elliott, Karen Watson, Kathy Arnett, and countless others from previous generations gave their lives in service to the Lord; and
WHEREAS, Baptist women have often led the way in missions giving, missions education, and missions support through the vital work of the Woman’s Missionary Union (W.M.U.); and
WHEREAS, The two Southern Baptist missions offerings that help fund and support the work of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board are named after faithful Baptist women—the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions; and
WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message rightly affirms that “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture” (Article VI), it also rightly affirms that “both men and women are gifted for service in the church” (Article VI); and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention recently affirmed the gifts, ministries, and value of women in service to the kingdom of God with the 2018 resolution “On The Dignity And Worth Of Women” and the 2023 resolution “On the Legacy and Responsibility of Women Fulfilling the Great Commission”; and
WHEREAS, Women today are serving faithfully, courageously, sacrificially, and selflessly in our Tennessee Baptist churches, colleges, and entities, and in a multitude of contexts around the world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention meeting in Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 14–15, 2023, recognize and honor the significant role women have played in both the Bible and in Baptist life, and that we recognize and honor the significant role women continue to play in Baptist life today; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we praise God for the multitudes of women who have faithfully served our Lord Jesus throughout history, and we praise Him for His ongoing work in calling women to serve Him and advance His kingdom in a variety of unique, critical, and indispensable ways today; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we recognize and affirm the God-given worth, gifting, and dignity of women, and that we express our deep and sincere gratitude to the countless women who serve among us as missionaries, writers, apologists, teachers, mentors, and leaders, both volunteer and professional, and that we celebrate their absolutely essential and too often unrecognized contributions to the expansion of His kingdom; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we as Tennessee Baptists recognize and honor the innumerable works that women today are doing in homes, churches, classrooms, hospitals, communities, workplaces, and on the global mission field to further the kingdom of God, and most importantly, we affirm that the God who sees will eternally reward the beautiful works women do in His name, by His grace, and for His glory; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage Tennessee Baptist pastors to equip the women in their congregations “for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12); and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we encourage Tennessee Baptists to continue to cultivate an environment within the Tennessee Baptist Convention where women are fully respected, valued, and honored for the significant role they play in our shared work of making Christ known.
