Messengers recently assembled for the 2022 Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting in St. Charles and passed resolutions on a variety of issues — declaring their opposition to recreational marijuana and gambling, while reaffirming their support for the sanctity of life for pre-born children.
Defending life
Most notably, these resolutions included a strong pro-life statement on the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Messengers approved a resolution stating that Missouri Baptists “will continue to contend for and defend the right to life of all pre-born persons,” will minister to pregnant mothers and pre-born children, and “commend the recent decision of the Supreme Court and the work of Missouri lawmakers regarding abortion.”
They also will continue to pray that Missouri lawmakers and the Supreme Court will “stand firm in this case of justice” and will “encourage other state and federal lawmakers to likewise outlaw elective abortion.”
Gambling
Missouri messengers also passed a resolution that opposes the spread of legalized gambling in Missouri.
On the grounds of love of money (1 Timothy 6:9–11), greed, the disproportionate effect gambling has on poor families, and “acquiring material gain by chance and at our neighbor’s expense,” the messengers resolved to “oppose the growing legalization and promotion of gambling of all kinds, at all times, and in all places.”
The resolution also encourages Missouri Baptist churches to teach their members about the dangers of gambling and to help those addicted to gambling.
Additionally, the resolution challenges churches “to abstain from the use of raffles, lotteries, bingo, and all other games of chance for the purpose of gambling or fund-raising.”
Recreational marijuana
Another resolution rejects the legalization of recreational marijuana in Missouri and urges Missouri residents to vote “No” on Amendment 3, which appeared for consideration on the Missouri ballot Tuesday (Nov. 8).
The resolution cites Scripture and facts, such as how marijuana impairs cognitive functions and has increased dangerous driving in other states.
The messengers resolved to “oppose any activity that would render our neighbors and ourselves enslaved to any chemical dependency,” to pray for and aid those trapped in substance abuse, and to proclaim “the gospel of Jesus Christ, who breaks every chain by the Spirit’s resurrection power.”
Honoring Don Hinkle
One resolution honored The Pathway’s late founding editor Don Hinkle (1954–2022) for his 20 years of service to the Missouri Baptist Convention. Hinkle died Sept. 22.
‘Puberty suppression and the gift of gender’
Messengers passed a resolution “On Puberty Suppression and the Gift of Gender,” opposed the use of puberty blockers and the use of tax revenue to fund them, and resolved to “pray for and minister to families undergoing the profound challenges of raising children experiencing gender dysphoria and to show unconditional love for all children.”
Another resolution “On Proclaiming Biblical Morality,” resolved to call on pastors to live out godly morality in their own lives, to fight sin, to preach it from the pulpit and called everyone as a whole to be salt and light in their communities and declare Jesus as the only hope for the world.
To read full story on Missouri’s Oct. 24–25 annual meeting, click here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Aiden Trimble and was originally published by the The Pathway, newsjournal of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
