WHEREAS, the Kingdom of God is a realm that includes persons from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language (Revelation 7:9); and
WHEREAS, we are all called to live as strangers and aliens, and to search for a city that is prepared for us by God (Hebrews 11:16); and
WHEREAS, the law, which was grounded in God’s person and sought to offer to the world an example of what was required for a life pleasing to God, instructed the people of God to show compassion and strive for justice for the sojourner and alien among us (Exodus 22:21; Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33; Deuteronomy 10:18-19; Psalm 94:6; Jeremiah 7:6; Ezekiel 22:29; Zechariah 7:10); and
WHEREAS, to ignore the “stranger” is tantamount to a rejection of Jesus (Matthew 25:38, 43); and
WHEREAS, the church is commanded to take the gospel to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8); and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has a foreign-born population of approximately 140,000, and an estimated population of between 15,000 and 50,000 undocumented immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Christian faith is vibrant among the immigrant population; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention, meeting in Lexington, KY on November 13, 2012, call on our churches to recognize the opportunity God is providing us by bringing the world to us, and to minister in word and deed, to all persons, regardless of country of origin or immigration status; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we will consume ourselves with the question of to whom we have proved ourselves a neighbor (Luke 10:36); and be it further
RESOLVED, that this is not a political prescription or endorsement of a partisan idea, rather this is about Gospel stewardship and faithfulness; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we understand that we do not confer dignity to any human being, and that what it means to be human is the foundation to any discussion concerning immigration, and as ministers of the Gospel we view all people as those who are endowed with the image of God; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we condemn any form of bigotry, mistreatment, or exploitation as opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further
RESOLVED, that any form of harassment or exclusion from human rights on the basis of immigration status is to be repudiated; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we encourage churches to strategize to reach ethnic communities by ministering to physical and spiritual needs; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we pray for our congregations to demonstrate the racial reconciliation which is only possible through the gospel (Ephesians 2:18-22), and to foreshadow the composition of Heaven by its multi-ethic diversity and Spirit-empowered unity; and be it further
RESOLVED, that Kentucky Baptists wish to express appreciation for those who serve and lead in the Ethnic Missions and Ministries of our Convention, and pledge our support as they fulfill the work God has given them; and be it finally
RESOLVED, that, while Kentucky Baptists may disagree on public policy, we are united in our efforts to reach all men and women with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.