3 of 3

The resolution asks convention agencies to refrain from using the TNIV. Jimmy Draper, president of Lifeway Christian Resources, said his agency will not sell the TNIV in its extensive chain of bookstores. SBC publisher Broadman and Holman, meanwhile, is preparing the Holman Christian Standard Bible, a more literal, formal equivalence translation, for release in 2004.

The strongest official statements came on two social issues. On the eve of the Dallas meeting of U.S. Catholic bishops to discuss policy for the handling sexual abuse of children by priests, the SBC passed a resolution urging its local congregations to turn abuse accusations over to civil authorities "to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors."

The resolution was not to admonish Catholics, but to warn Baptists, said Bobby Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Florida. "We shouldn't enjoy this Catholic mess too much," he said. "We are waiting on the other shoe to drop, and when it does, don't be surprised if there is more and more within our ranks."

President George Bush greeted conventioneers live by satellite on the opening day. Bush received four standing ovations, and Merritt joked after the telecast, "The president may be a Methodist, but he's the closest thing to a Southern Baptist president we've had in a long time." The SBC regularly admonished President Bill Clinton, a Southern Baptist, for both political acts and moral failings.

In this meeting, messengers backed Bush's efforts to appoint federal judges, saying the Senate Judiciary Committee has "engaged in unprecedented obstructionism." Later the convention urged Bush to renew his efforts to ban partial-birth abortions, which the resolution noted, had become a back-burner item after the September 11 attacks. Messengers voted to resurrect the resolution for a floor vote, after the resolutions committee had refused to bring it for consideration.

Eric Reed is managing editor of Christianity Today sister publication Leadership Journal.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

The Southern Baptist Convention website has a transcript (and video and audio) of President Bush remarks to the SBC Tuesday. BP News convention coverage includes:

Graham elected SBC president; Porter lauded for service (June 12)

50 homosexual activists arrested attempting to disrupt SBC (June 12)

Leaders hope EKG spurs Baptists to evangelism (June 12)

Other media coverage of the convention includes:

Southern Baptists skip convention | Local churches don't send many to meetings. (The News & Observer)

Southern Baptists take their message to strip clubs | Their mission was part of the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. But the big story could be the Baptists who do not show up. (Chicago Tribune)

Baptists' strong words spark protest | The head of the Southern Baptists condemned homosexuality from the podium yesterday as angry homosexual-rights protesters and a Muslim group marched through the convention hall. (The Washington Times)

Also: Gay rights protesters disrupt Baptist meeting | 50 arrested at St. Louis convention. (The Dallas Morning News)

Also: Protesters interrupt Baptist meeting (Associated Press)

Muslims angered by Southern Baptist on Islam | A leading Islamic group demanded Tuesday that the Southern Baptist Convention condemn "bigoted" and "hate-filled" statements made by one of its pastors. (CNN)

Southern Baptists call for 'sexual integrity' of church personnel | Delegates also voice support for Israel. (Associated Press)

Also: Southern Baptists reflect on Catholic abuse scandal, urge discipline for Baptist abusers (Associated Press)

first page |  3 of 3

share this page

June (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46