WHEREAS, God has historically called leaders among His people for the sake of shepherding them and caring for their needs (Exodus 28:1, 40:12-15); and
WHEREAS, Jesus Christ called out specific disciples to lead His followers, and Paul recognized pastoral gifts in Timothy and Titus and exhorted them to use those gifts for the good of the local church (Matthew 4:18-22; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6); and
WHEREAS, God has gifted His church with “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12); and
WHEREAS, One of the two scriptural offices of the local church is pastor (The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article VI); and
WHEREAS, God has blessed Kentucky Baptists with some of the most biblically sound and faithful ministry training in the world; and
WHEREAS, There is a great need for godly and biblical pastors across Kentucky; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Kentucky Baptists will pray for God to call pastors to serve His churches; and be it further
RESOLVED, Kentucky Baptists will preach and teach on the high calling of pastor in the local church; and be it further
RESOLVED, Kentucky Baptist preachers will call on those called by God to the role of pastor to respond obediently to this call; and be it further
RESOLVED, Kentucky Baptist pastors, associational mission strategists and other leaders will train and equip newly called pastors to serve the local church; and be it further
RESOLVED, Kentucky Baptists will support pastors in their God-given work.