2026 Proposed Resolutions

WHEREAS, God alone is the author of life, and every human life possesses inherent dignity and worth from conception until natural death; and

WHEREAS, Scripture consistently affirms the sanctity of human life and calls believers to protect the vulnerable, including the aging, the disabled, and the suffering (Genesis 1:26-27; Exodus 20:13; Job 14:5; Psalm 139:13,16; Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 17:28; James 3:9); and

WHEREAS, Assisted suicide, often described as “medical aid in dying” or “death with dignity,” intentionally seeks to end human life and is inconsistent with biblical teaching on the value of life; and

WHEREAS, The expansion of assisted suicide laws in various nations and regions demonstrates a pattern in which initial limitations are often broadened, placing vulnerable populations at greater risk; and

WHEREAS, Faithful Christian witness requires both compassion toward those who suffer and a commitment to uphold the sanctity of life in all circumstances; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED,  That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Richmond, Kentucky, November 10, 2026, reaffirm the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we oppose assisted suicide in all its forms and any effort to normalize or legalize the intentional ending of human life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon Kentucky Baptist pastors, churches, and ministry leaders to provide compassionate care, gospel hope, and faithful accompaniment to those who are suffering; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage policymakers, healthcare providers, and society at large to prioritize palliative care, hospice care, and life-affirming medical practices; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we commit to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only ultimate hope in suffering, life, and death.

WHEREAS, Scripture clearly teaches and The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 affirms that every human being is made in the image of God and therefore possesses inherent dignity and worth, undiminished by physical, intellectual, or developmental differences (Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 139:13–16; James 3:9); and

WHEREAS, God the Father desires that all would come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19–20); and

WHEREAS, Scripture also teaches that the ongoing work of discipleship is essential to the life of the church, and that believers are to be equipped for the work of ministry so that every member of the body, regardless of physical, developmental, or intellectual ability, may grow in Christlikeness and serve according to the gifts God has given (Ephesians 4:11-13); and

WHEREAS, Families of children, youth, and adults with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities often face persistent challenges, including social isolation and the physical exhaustion of caregiving; and

WHEREAS, Research suggests that families of those with disabilities are significantly less likely to attend church regularly due to a lack of accessibility, programming, or sense of belonging; and

WHEREAS, Jesus calls us to welcome, love, protect, honor, and serve those devalued and pushed to the margins of society (Leviticus 19:14; Luke 14:12–14; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 12:22–26); and

WHEREAS, Every Kentucky Baptist Convention church has an opportunity to extend love, hospitality, and pastoral care and gospel witness by expanding ministry to those with disabilities and their families; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s Disability Ministry Task Force, reporting at the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, calls each church and Southern Baptist entity to the same; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers call upon churches to welcome joyfully every person regardless of physical, developmental, or intellectual capacity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we call upon Kentucky Baptists to model speech that is compassionate, truthful, and honoring to fellow image bearers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Kentucky Baptist Convention churches of every size and in every community to develop or expand plans for inclusion of children, youth, and adults with disabilities so as to ensure that no family is forced to choose between the particular needs of a family member and the fellowship of the church; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage churches to evaluate their facilities to identify barriers to access for those with physical limitations and to act with hospitality to reduce or eliminate those barriers to the greatest degree practical (Mark 2:1-12); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we exhort our seminaries, entities, and associations to highlight the need for churches and their leaders to have the training, skills, and resources needed to care compassionately for families navigating the complexities of special needs; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That by providing excellent care for those with disabilities and their families, our churches will be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ to a watching world to see how Kentucky Baptists treat all people with dignity and respect.

WHEREAS, God created human beings in his image and likeness (Gen. 1:26-28) for community with him and one another (Gen. 2:7,18); and

WHEREAS, Sin brought about the destruction of the perfect union that God had with his image bearers and that we had with one another and despite the brokenness and devastation in our lives, humans are uniquely crafted for rich, meaningful, and other-oriented relationships with others (Matt. 22:37-39); and

WHEREAS, Scripture tells the story of God’s loving pursuit of humanity through the work of Jesus Christ (John 3:16) and how through Christ we can have a restored relationship with God and true relationships with one another; and

WHEREAS, The New Testament is replete with calls to “love one another” (John 13:34-35; John 15:12; John 15:17; Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8; 1Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:11-12; 2 John 1:5) and relationships with others are requisite for true human flourishing; and

WHEREAS, We live in a culture where authentic relationships are often being mediated through technology such as the internet, social media, and even advanced artificially intelligent (AI) machines which are not morally neutral since they shape our understanding of God, ourselves as human beings, and how we ought to relate to one another in community; and

WHEREAS, Various applications of AI are increasingly being used to mediate, augment, substitute, and at times even replace authentic human relationships often in the name of efficiency, convenience, and ease; and

WHEREAS, True and authentic relationships with others are often messy, time-consuming, and difficult, yet also beautiful, fulfilling, and necessary by God’s good design; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Richmond, Kentucky on November 10, 2026 proclaim that AI cannot and ought not be a substitute or replacement for authentic human connection and relationships even if these tools can be developed and used in ways that augment our distinct callings as image bearers; and be it further

RESOLVED, that all Christians should recognize that the end and purpose of technology will not always align with that of our calling as image bearers to love God and our neighbors, and that we must never seek to employ AI and other emerging technologies in ways that diminish the dignity of any human being; and be it further

RESOLVED, that despite many contemporary visions of human identity, we reaffirm that humans are not designed to live life as isolated, autonomous individuals but as interdependent individuals in relationship with one another; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we champion the beauty of God’s good design for relationships and the other-natured focus of true friendship which is vital to human flourishing, never ceding relationships to mere machines that often mimic or imitate human characteristics; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we express our deep concern for the continued development of AI applications which normalize human-to-machine interactions as substitutes for authentic community, blurring the distinct line between human and machine; and be it further

RESOLVED, that parents, educators, church leaders, technologists, and policy makers ought to critically examine and push back against the dehumanizing effects of technology especially on relationships; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the Bible is more than sufficient to help us navigate the realities of our digital age and “is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

WHEREAS, nearly 9,000 children in the Commonwealth of Kentucky need foster care; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has less than 4,600 approved foster homes; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,700 children have a goal of adoption; and

WHEREAS, the faith-based community is a critical component in the Commonwealth’s ability to provide foster care and facilitate adoptions; and

WHEREAS, faith-based individuals are two times more likely to adopt, and three times more likely to foster; and

WHEREAS, faith-based individuals are more likely to engage in alternative means of supporting children who are or may be involved in foster or adoptive systems, including volunteering with child welfare organizations, providing support to foster or adoptive families, and providing respite care; and

WHEREAS, governmental hostility to and infringement upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of faith-based individuals and organizations chills participation by those persons and organizations, thereby exacerbating shortages of foster homes and adoptive parental applicants; and

WHEREAS, governmental hostility to and infringement upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of the faith-based community do not further any compelling interests of the Commonwealth and jeopardize the well-being of the children entrusted to the care of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the laws of the Commonwealth do not provide adequate remedies to deter or prevent improper and unmerited infringement by governmental actors upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of the faith-based community; and

WHEREAS, the laws of the Commonwealth do not provide adequate remedies to make whole those faith-based individuals and organizations whose sincerely held religious beliefs have been infringed by governmental actors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that governing authorities in the Commonwealth should value the critical contributions to foster care and adoption services made by the faith-based community; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the governing authorities of the Commonwealth should honor and respect the long-standing recognition of the faith-based values inherent in the founding and flourishing of the Commonwealth and this Nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, that legal protections are critical to the continued support of the faith-based community in the foster care and adoption sectors, and necessary to solicit increased efforts and resources from the faith-based community; and be it further

RESOLVED, that said legal protections should include waivers of governmental immunities that would preclude the faith-based community from seeking timely and effective relief from threatened and actual infringements upon their sincerely held religious beliefs; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that we call upon Kentucky Commonwealth governing officials to enact laws and craft policies that appropriately and effectively protect and encourage the faith-based community in their foster care and adoption efforts and services.

WHEREAS, the law written on the heart at creation is the same moral law in substance later given in the Ten Commandments and remains binding upon all people as the unchanging standard of righteousness, and that Christ does not dissolve but strengthens this obligation (Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 10:4; Matthew 19:17; Romans 2:14–15; 13:8–10); and

WHEREAS, The First Table of the Law (commandments 1-4 regarding duties toward God) and the Second Table (commandments 5-10 regarding duties toward neighbor) belong together, so that love of neighbor and ordered civil life cannot long be sustained when a people refuse to acknowledge the moral authority of the God who made them; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith and Message (2000) teaches that every Christian should seek to bring government and society under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love (Article XV); that Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program and is linked to the formation of faithful citizens (Article XII); and that “God alone is Lord of the conscience,” meaning that church and state should be separate, and the state may impose neither penalties for religious opinions nor taxes for the support of any form of religion (Article XVII); and

WHEREAS, Historic Baptist confessions and catechisms, including the Second London Baptist Confession (1677/89) and the Baptist Catechism (Question #46) have been utilized in Baptist instruction; and

WHEREAS, A free church in a free state does not require a neutral public square, official religious indifference, or the exclusion of the moral law from civic life; rather, it forbids the establishment of a denomination, the coercion of conscience, and the use of civil power to carry on the spiritual work of the church; and

WHEREAS, Civil government is God’s servant, ordained to praise what is good and restrain what is evil (Romans 13:1–4; 1 Peter 2:13–14), and therefore may acknowledge the historic and moral foundations of law without claiming the authority over the church or compelling personal faith; and

WHEREAS, The Ten Commandments have occupied a prominent place in the legal, educational, and civic heritage of Western civilization, the common law, and the United States, and Kentucky itself once required their classroom display as a recognition of that heritage; and

WHEREAS, Kentucky’s Attorney General has claimed that classroom displays of the Ten Commandments, presented in historical and educational context, may be consistent with the First Amendment, and the Commonwealth has already restored public recognition of the Commandments on the Capitol grounds; and

WHEREAS, Public school classrooms help form the moral imagination of the next generation of citizens, and Baptists have commonly opposed a state church while still affirming that true religion sustains just government, that virtue is necessary to liberty, and that education should train students in Scripture, character, and good citizenship; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention, meeting in Richmond, Kentucky, on November 10, 2026, affirm that the Ten Commandments summarize the moral law of God and that this law remains a true and public standard of righteousness for all persons and societies; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we distinguish clearly between the establishment of a church or denomination, which Baptists reject, and the civic acknowledgment of the moral law summarized in the Ten Commandments, which neither baptizes the state nor binds any conscience to a particular confession of faith; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the lawful display of the Ten Commandments in Kentucky public school classrooms as a witness to the moral foundations of law, the historical sources of ordered liberty, and the duties we owe to God and neighbor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Kentucky Baptists to teach their own children the full meaning of the Commandments in the home and the church, remembering that public acknowledgment is no replacement for Christian discipleship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend public officials who defend the historic and educational place of the Ten Commandments in civic life, and we encourage the Kentucky General Assembly and local school authorities to maintain classroom displays consistent with religious liberty, parental rights, and the moral formation of students; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reject the error of using civil power to coerce saving faith and the opposite error of treating public silence about God’s moral law as a Baptist or American requirement; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we call Kentucky Baptist churches to pray for teachers, students, parents, and lawmakers, to model the righteousness the Commandments require, and to proclaim Jesus Christ, who fulfills the Law and through the power of His gospel writes that Law on the hearts of His people.

WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd of his church, calls pastors to serve as faithful undershepherds who know, lead, feed, protect, and comfort the flock entrusted to their care through the ministry of the Word, prayer, discipleship, pastoral care, and godly leadership (Acts 20:28; John 10:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4); and

WHEREAS, The majority of Kentucky Baptist Convention churches are led by bivocational or volunteer pastors who faithfully carry the responsibilities of pastoral ministry alongside other vocational, ministry, family, and personal responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, These pastors faithfully shepherd congregations, engage their communities, and advance the mission of Christ’s church, often through unseen acts of service, personal sacrifice, late nights, and long days; and                                           

WHEREAS, Scripture affirms the dignity of labor and provides the example of the apostle Paul, who supported himself through manual labor while faithfully carrying out gospel ministry for the glory of God and the advancement of the gospel (Acts 18:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:9); and

WHEREAS, The terms “bivocational,” “part-time,” “covocational,” and “volunteer” often refer only to compensation but do not adequately reflect the value, scope, or responsibility of this pastoral ministry (1 Timothy 5:18); and

WHEREAS, Kentucky Baptists have recognized the continuing need to identify, encourage, mentor, and equip those whom God is calling to pastoral ministry, particularly those who may serve bivocationally and whose vocational, family, or geographic circumstances may make residential theological education difficult; and

WHEREAS, Many Kentucky Baptist churches and church plants have been shepherded and strengthened through the faithful service of bivocational and volunteer pastors and their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Richmond, Kentucky, November 10, 2026, express heartfelt gratitude to Kentucky Baptist bivocational and volunteer pastors for their faithful and sacrificial service to Christ and his church; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the commitment, perseverance, humility, and gospel faithfulness demonstrated by bivocational and volunteer pastors who labor diligently in shepherding Christ’s church while faithfully carrying the other responsibilities God has entrusted to them (Romans 13:7); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we also express appreciation for the wives and families of bivocational and volunteer pastors who support and encourage them, make sacrifices, and partner in ministry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we exhort Kentucky Baptist churches to pray for, support, encourage, and care well for their pastors, remembering that those who serve as undershepherds are themselves members of Christ’s flock and recognizing the spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and family demands of bivocational and volunteer ministry (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:28); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage Kentucky Baptist churches to cultivate a shared ministry of care in which believers bear one another’s burdens and are equipped for the work of ministry, rather than expecting pastors and their families to carry every ministry responsibility alone (Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 4:11-12); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Kentucky Baptist churches, associations, and entities to identify, encourage, and equip current and future bivocational and volunteer pastors through mentoring, accessible theological education, scholarship assistance, and initiatives such as Calling Out the Called (2 Timothy 2:2); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we pray the Lord of the harvest would continue to raise up and send faithful pastors to proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and strengthen churches in every community (Matthew 9:36-38); and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we give thanks to God for the enduring ministry of Kentucky Baptist bivocational and volunteer pastors who have labored faithfully in churches to advance the gospel across the generations.

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture affirms that God created humanity in His own image, bestowing human dignity and appointing individuals to practice personal stewardship, honest labor, private ownership, and voluntary charity (Exodus 20:15, 17; Proverbs 14:23; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10–12); and

WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention has historically affirmed that “economic freedom [is a] necessary corollary to religious liberty” (1992 SBC Resolution on Religious Freedom), and that collectivist state ideologies are “contrary to the genius of our Baptist concept of freedom and spiritual values” (1948 SBC Resolution); and

WHEREAS, The ideology of socialism seeks to centralize economic, social, and cultural authority within the coercive apparatus of the civil state, displacing the God-ordained jurisdictions of the individual, the nuclear family, and the local church (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1–7); and

WHEREAS, The unchecked expansion of state power historically and consistently leads to the infringement of conscience, the penalizing of dissent, and the erosion of religious liberty; and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (Article XVII) confesses that “A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal,” mandating that civil government remain within its God-given limits; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention reaffirm our historic commitment to biblical stewardship, individual soul competency before God, the dignity of honest labor, and the biblical mandate for voluntary generosity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we reject socialism as a philosophy that is fundamentally contrary to biblical principles of stewardship, human responsibility, and sphere sovereignty; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we warn against cultural and political movements that seek to subordinate the conscience, religious freedom, family authority, or the autonomy of Christian institutions to state control; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we call upon Kentucky Baptists to proclaim Christ as Lord over every sphere of life, exercising their civic responsibilities with biblical discernment and praying that our leaders maintain a free society where Christians may “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture reveals that the church of the living God is to be ordered according to divine instruction, setting forth specific, permanent qualifications for those called to shepherd the flock (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4); and

WHEREAS, The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (Article VI) affirms that “the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture”; and

WHEREAS, Scripture binds the pastoral office to its distinct functions, preeminently the authoritative preaching and teaching of God’s Word to the assembled congregation (1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:1–2); and

WHEREAS, Maintaining clarity on both the office and the ministry functions of the pastor/elder/overseer preserves biblical fidelity and protects the peace, purity, and cooperative unity of our churches; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 2026 Kentucky Baptist Convention in Richmond, KY affirm that the terms pastor, elder, and overseer refer to the same sacred office, and that both the office and its distinct pastoral functions are reserved by Scripture exclusively for qualified men; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge all cooperating Kentucky Baptist churches to ensure they do not affirm, appoint, or endorse a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor/elder/overseer, such as preaching to the assembled congregation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage Kentucky Baptist churches and convention ministries to reflect this biblical pattern; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we express profound gratitude for the vital, indispensable, and diverse ministries of godly women, joyfully honoring their God-given gifts in accordance with the Scriptures.

WHEREAS, the messengers to the 189th 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, Richmond, Kentucky, and

WHEREAS, we also express our gratitude to Mayor Robert Blythe and the Richmond Board of Commissioners, Judge Executive Reagan Taylor and the Madison County Fiscal Court, as well as the citizens of Madison Co., 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 Richmond, Kentucky, November 10, 2026, 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.