2025 Proposed Resolutions

WHEREAS, Scripture teaches that children are a blessing from the Lord, declaring, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3), and that life is a sacred gift of God from conception to natural death; and

WHEREAS, From creation, God’s design for humanity has been that male and female together, joined in marriage, would be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28), and the family is given by God as the foundational institution for human flourishing, discipleship, and cultural renewal; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary society is marked by a rapidly declining birth rate, with fewer men and women marrying, bearing children, and embracing the God-given vocation of family life, thereby undermining the stability of communities and the future of our nation; and

WHEREAS, The sin of abortion has claimed the lives of millions of unborn children in our land, not only destroying precious image bearers of God but also exacerbating the declining birth rate and contributing to a culture that views children as burdens rather than blessings; and

WHEREAS, A society that devalues marriage, discourages childbirth, and undermines the natural family cannot long endure, for it severs itself from the created order and the biblical truths upon which healthy civilization depends; and

WHEREAS, Governing officials are called by God to reward good and restrain evil (Romans 13:1–4), and therefore bear responsibility to enact policies that strengthen marriage, protect unborn life, and encourage family formation for the sake of the common good; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention, meeting in Cold Spring, Kentucky, on November 11, 2025, affirm the inherent goodness of children as divine gifts entrusted to parents and to the church, and celebrate the calling of families to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we lament the declining birth rate in our society and call upon Christians to resist cultural narratives that pit personal fulfillment against the blessing of family life, and instead to embrace God’s good design for marriage and childbearing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our unwavering opposition abortion as both an assault on the image of God and as a destructive force against the family and the vitality of future generations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon Kentucky and federal governing officials to enact laws and craft policies that promote and protect marriage, incentivize family formation, safeguard unborn life through the abolition of abortion, and remove economic and social barriers to raising children; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commit ourselves as Kentucky Baptists to bear faithful witness in our churches and communities to the goodness of marriage, the blessing of children, and the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who welcomes the little children and calls His people to do the same.

WHEREAS, Scripture teaches that all human beings are made in the image of God, possess full dignity, and are worthy of equal respect and Christian love (Gen 1:26–27; 9:6; Ps 8:4–6; Jas 3:9; Jn 13:34–35); and

WHEREAS, God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person; and

WHEREAS, the law of God forbids the taking of innocent life and calls Christians to obey God rather than men when earthly authorities require disobedience to this law (Ex 20:13; Acts 5:29; Prov 6:16–17); and

WHEREAS, the civil authorities are called by God to uphold righteousness and to protect human life and the rights of conscience (Rom 13:1–4; 1 Pet 2:13–14; 1 Tim 2:1–2; Jas 4:12); and

WHEREAS, federal law, in the form of the Church Amendment of 1973, prohibits any individual or organization receiving federal funding from coercing individuals to perform a medical procedure contrary to that individual’s religious beliefs or moral convictions; and

WHEREAS, conscience protections are rooted in natural rights endowed by God and therefore apply to all people, not merely to employees of entities receiving federal funding (1 Tim 2:1–2; Jas 4:12); and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky does not currently provide a legal remedy for healthcare professionals who are forced to violate their conscience, and

WHEREAS, though it is not the civil government that grants their rights, it is the duty and God-ordained calling of civil government to correct any legislation that is not in accord with the natural or eternal law of God (Ps 94:20-21; Dan 4:26-27; Rom 13:3-4); now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention, meeting in Cold Spring, Kentucky, on November 11, 2025, affirm the biblical truth that every human being is made in the image of God and is therefore endowed with inherent dignity, moral worth, and the right to act according to conscience; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we affirm the right of healthcare professionals to abstain from participation in procedures, prescriptions, treatments, or compelled speech that would violate their sincerely held religious or moral convictions, including—but not limited to—such procedures as abortion, euthanasia, and so-called “gender transition” interventions, as well as compelled usage of false pronouns; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we commend Kentucky legislators and public officials who have sought to protect these rights and urge the Kentucky General Assembly to enact comprehensive medical conscience protections that ensure that no healthcare worker, medical student, or institution is coerced into violating sincerely held religious or moral convictions in order to maintain their employment, licensure, or livelihood; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we call upon Christian healthcare workers to exercise their callings with integrity, stand firm in their faith even under temptation to compromise, and to treat every human being—from fertilization to natural death—as an image bearer of God, always seeking to avoid harm and promote the well-being of their patients, in accordance with natural and biblical law and the ethical principles historically associated with Hippocratic tradition; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that we, as Kentucky Baptists, will continue in fervent prayer for the General Assembly to uphold righteousness with regard to medical conscience protections—protecting both human life and the God-given rights of conscience—and for all healthcare workers to perform their callings with honesty and integrity, exercising their rights of conscience in a Christ-honoring manner.

WHEREAS, Scripture teaches that God created human sexuality to be enjoyed exclusively within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6) and commands his people to “flee sexual immorality” and to glorify him with their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5); and

WHEREAS, Jesus warned that lustful intent itself is adultery of the heart (Matthew 5:27-28), obligating Christians to guard both mind and body (Job 31:1; Romans 12:1-2); and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 states that “Christians should oppose … all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography” (Article XV), and the Kentucky Baptist Convention has repeatedly decried pornography’s evil; and

WHEREAS, Contemporary research affirms that habitual pornography use fosters addiction, induces negative physiological effects, contributes to aggression and relational breakdown, and often serves as a gateway to escalating sexual perversions; and

WHEREAS, Pornography not only debases its consumers but also objectifies those it depicts, many of whom are coerced, trafficked, or economically exploited, thereby dishonoring those made in the image of God; and

WHEREAS, Civil government is ordained by God to restrain evil and to promote that which is good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14), and long-standing obscenity statutes demonstrate the state’s rightful authority to prohibit material that is destructive to public morals; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting in Cold Spring, Kentucky, November 11, 2025, denounce pornography in every form as a distortion of God’s gift of sexuality to humanity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our Convention’s past condemnations of pornography and maintain that all production, distribution, and consumption of pornographic material is sin against God, neighbor, and self; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon pastors, churches, and Kentucky Baptist entities to proclaim the liberating power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to provide robust discipleship and accountability structures, and to offer compassionate, Christian care for those ensnared by pornography; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we exhort parents and guardians to cultivate homes of holiness by employing wisdom, technological safeguards, and candid instruction to protect children from exposure to sexualized media and curb temptation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress and the Kentucky legislature to enact comprehensive laws that ban the creation, publication, hosting, and distribution of pornographic content in all media and to provide rigorous enforcement mechanisms in the ultimate effort to eradicate pornography nationwide; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend the recent passage of the Take It Down Act and celebrate it as model legislation that aims to protect individuals from the corrosive evils of pornography; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we appeal to the governor, the attorney general, and local officials to employ every constitutional means presently available to enforce existing obscenity laws and community-standards ordinances, and to ensure that the dignity of individuals and families is protected from this insidious material; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call on governing officials to take proactive measures to anticipate the effects of AI-generated pornography in order to protect individuals and the public from its harms; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend and partner with ministries, counselors, and organizations laboring to rescue and restore those harmed by the pornography industry and by sex trafficking; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge believers to advocate for those harmed through sexual exploitation by committing themselves to steadfast prayer, pleading with God to restore broken lives and lead our nation to repentance for its involvement in the creation, distribution, and consumption of pornography; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we joyfully affirm God’s good and perfect design for human sexuality within the confines of covenant marriage between one man and one woman, and we pledge to teach, model, and steadfastly defend this biblical standard in our churches, homes, and public witness as we pursue a permanent end to pornography.

WHEREAS, the church is called to lead people to Christ and disciple Christians to obey all that Christ has commanded (Matthew 28:16-20); and

WHEREAS, the church primarily uses its resources to serve God, help those in need, spread the Gospel, and does not focus on making a financial profit (1 Cor. 9:14 & 16:1-4, Acts 4:35-37, 3 John 5-8, Gal. 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:10); and

WHEREAS, the church uses a wide variety of programs and events to help spread the Gospel, which can include hosting recreational activities and leagues, organizing camps, hosting church meals, and numerous other activities; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have strongly supported and affirmed the First Amendment’s prohibition of government involvement in religious programs and its protection of the free exercise of religion; and

WHEREAS, HB 8 passed in the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly created new tax burdens on certain church programs, including recreational programs and basketball leagues; and

WHEREAS, Kentucky law subjected other church programs, including church-organized meals, to the sales tax even before HB 8; and

WHEREAS, churches are not designed to serve as tax collectors for the government; and

WHEREAS, churches would be financially, administratively, and ministerially burdened if an executive branch hostile to religious liberty attempted to enforce the sales and use tax on church programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting in Cold Spring, Kentucky, on November 11, 2025, reaffirm that the church should be able to focus on evangelism and discipleship free from the burden of unwarranted government intrusion and financial entanglement, and be it further

RESOLVED, that we express our gratitude towards the 45 sponsors and co-sponsors of HB 37 and HB 453 from the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly, which would have repealed the sales and use tax burden on church ministries; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we urge the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly to pass legislation eliminating the sales and use tax burden on churches, protecting religious liberty, and ensuring that the church can reach as many people as possible with the good news of Christ free of government interference; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that we encourage KBC pastors and church members to support the effort to repeal the sales and use tax burden on churches by contacting their elected officials and explaining the burdens on church ministry that the current law causes.

WHEREAS, Scripture teaches cooperation is beneficial to the Christian life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12), is essential to the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:16), is good and pleasant (Psalm 133:1), and Believers are called to cooperate as we “strive together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27); and

WHEREAS, the Old Testament pattern of cooperation is evident in creation (Genesis 1-2), combat (Judges 1:3) and construction (Nehemiah 3); and

WHEREAS, the New Testament church cooperated in prayer (2 Corinthians 1:11) and sharing financial resources to support ministry and missionaries (Acts 2:42-44, 11:29-30; 2 Corinthians 8-9); and

WHEREAS, the three Persons of the Trinity exist in perfect harmony, partnering cooperatively in the work of redemption (Ephesians 1:3-14), and mankind is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-28); and

WHEREAS, Jesus prayed for His followers to be unified so that “the world may believe” (John 17:21), underscoring that cooperation is a testimony to the world of the power of the gospel; and

WHEREAS, since 1837, Kentucky Baptists have partnered to strengthen one another and to support international and domestic missionaries, theological education, church planting, collegiate evangelism, disaster relief, and more; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention annual meeting on November 11, 2025, in Cold Spring, Kentucky, reaffirm our commitment to biblical cooperation as a reflection of Christ’s desire for unity and the church’s calling to advance the gospel together; and be it further

RESOLVED, that Kentucky Baptists give generously and faithfully through the Cooperative Program, recognizing it as the most effective means of sustaining long-term mission support; and be it further

RESOLVED, that churches of the Kentucky Baptist Convention actively cooperate with one another through fellowship, prayer, shared ministry efforts, and encouragement, for the building up of each congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Kentucky Baptist Convention and its entities continue to foster a cooperative spirit that prioritizes serving churches and advancing the gospel; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that we call upon all Kentucky Baptist churches, pastors, and leaders to champion cooperation as both a biblical conviction and a missional strategy, so that together we may reach Kentucky and the world for Christ.

WHEREAS, the messengers to the 188th session of the Kentucky Baptist Convention are a deliberative assembly who are drawn together for the propagation of the gospel, and

WHEREAS, we acknowledge God’s sovereignty and providence in this sacred task, and

WHEREAS, we also acknowledge the kind hospitality of the people of First Baptist Church, Cold Spring, Kentucky, and

WHEREAS, we also express our gratitude to Mayor David “Angelo” Penque and the members of the Cold Spring City Council, Judge Executive Steve Pendery and the Campbell County Fiscal Court, as well as the citizens of Cold Spring, Kentucky, for their gracious welcome, and

WHEREAS, we especially acknowledge the Lord’s grace in enabling our Kentucky Baptist Convention president, officers, various committees, musicians, and other platform personnel to conduct the affairs of this convention with dignity and a Christlike spirit.

Therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting in Cold Spring, Kentucky, November 11, 2025, express our profound gratitude to the Lord and to all those through whom He is working to bring about an annual meeting characterized by prayer, grace, humility, evangelism, worship, encouragement, unity, and purpose.