Resolution on Blogging
Submitted by Rev. Wayne Bray and Rev. William Harrell Beulah Baptist Church, Douglasville, GA
WHEREAS, the American people have the distinct privilege of freedom of speech as provided by our United States Constitution, and this resolution is not intended to limit that freedom of speech we all value so much; and
WHEREAS responsible blogging can be a
means of promoting the flow of information and encouragement of our
people, but certain people use this tool for divisive and destructive
rhetoric at the expense of peace among the Brethren; and
WHEREAS blogging is also being used by
some as a tool for personal attacks upon other Christian Brothers and
Sisters, and this critical and divisive use promotes a negative view of
the Southern Baptist Convention in the eyes of the society we are
striving to reach with the Gospel (James 3:6,14);
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the
messengers of this convention oppose blogging when it is used to cause
division and disharmony among the members of our Southern Baptist
Family (Proverbs 6:16-19; I Cor. 1:10); and since personal
differences should not be dealt with in public view,
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that all personal
attacks should cease immediately (Proverbs 17:27-28; John 17:21-23 ); and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that we reaffirm
the historic method of administering our agencies and institutions
through elected boards of trustees, and we call upon bloggers to cease
the critical second-guessing of these elected leaders; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all
Georgia Baptists respectfully request and expect that individuals who
disrupt the fellowship through blogging repent and immediately cease
this activity and no longer cause disharmony for the advancement of
their own personal opinions and agendas; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we set
our eyes once again on the fields to which we are called to labor,
refusing to dishonor God with activities that militate against harmony
and good will.
Uploaded by Mike Hardin, messenger from First Baptist Church of Lovejoy.