Resolution by SBC on education

[rgrove]

I'm happe the following resolution passed the in the latest SBC Annual Meeting. Last year they got too carried away and tried to pass a resolution recommending all SBC parents homeschool or find a suitable Christian school nearby. That was a little much to ask at this time. Somebody just tried that in the latest PCA General Assembly and the resolution suffered the same fate. The PCA left it to local sessions to recommend.

The PCA church down the street from where I live is about 60/40 homeschool/private Christian school. They set up St. Stevens Academy where many go for a solid, private, Christian education. At our church, almost everyone is homeschooled at this point. Only a few remaining public school children. How is it at your church?

Here is the resolution:

Resolution No. 1
ON EDUCATING CHILDREN

WHEREAS, Children have been entrusted to parents by the Lord and represent our nation’s future and our spiritual legacy; and

WHEREAS, God has given parents the responsibility for the upbringing and education of our children (Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-7); and

WHEREAS, Many negative influences are attempting to transform the moral foundation of the culture by reshaping the core values of our children, undermining historical truth, and promoting promiscuity, violence, and other immoral behaviors; and

WHEREAS, Children are vulnerable to marketing and entertainment campaigns that redefine truth, morality, and family relationships; and

WHEREAS, Homosexual activists and their allies are devoting substantial resources and using political power to promote the acceptance among schoolchildren of homosexuality as a morally legitimate lifestyle; and

WHEREAS, Educational institutions are often an effective gateway to children’s hearts and minds; and

WHEREAS, Parents have access to textbooks, curricula, special programs, teachers, and other school personnel, giving them tremendous power to effect change in schools; and

WHEREAS, All citizens have the right and responsibility to participate in local, state, and national elections and to use their influence to effect change; and

WHEREAS, Involved parents are the ultimate influence in the lives of their children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, June 21-22, 2005, urge parents and churches to research and monitor the entertainment and educational influences on children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge parents and churches to exercise their rights to investigate diligently the curricula, textbooks, and programs in our community schools and to demand discontinuation of offensive material and programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge our churches to assist and support parents as they investigate community schools and as they train and disciple their own children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend godly teachers and students who feel called by God to take a stand for Christ in secular schools as a light shining in the darkness; and be it further

RESOLVED, That as citizen Christians we commit to hold accountable schools, institutions, and industries for their moral influence on our children; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we urge Christian parents to fully embrace their responsibility to make prayerful and informed decisions regarding where and how they educate their children, whether they choose public, private, or home schooling, to ensure their physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual well-being, with a goal of raising godly men and women who are thoroughly equipped to live as fully devoted followers of Christ.

[rgrove]

There are other interesting resolutions passed by the messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting as well. Here is the listing:

www.sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc05/resolutions/default.asp

Resolution No. 1
ON EDUCATING CHILDREN
WHEREAS, Children have been entrusted to parents by the Lord and represent our nation’s future and our spiritual legacy; andWHEREAS, Children have been entrusted to parents by the Lord and represent our nation’s future and our spiritual legacy; and Read More

Resolution No. 2
ON STEM CELL RESEARCH
WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that all human life is sacred (Genesis 1:26-27); and WHEREAS, Humans have a sacred trust to care for the most vulnerable among us (Matthew 25:31-46); and Read More

Resolution No. 3
ON THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY
WHEREAS, Some federal judges have undermined and supplanted the United States system of limited government by presuming to write and impose new laws upon America’s citizenry rather than interpreting law according to constitutional intent; and Read More

Resolution No. 4
ON THE DISNEY BOYCOTT
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention rightly and appropriately adopted a resolution in 1997 calling for Southern Baptists to refrain from patronizing The Disney Company and its related entities; and Read More

Resolution No. 5
ON EXERCISING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH
WHEREAS, The United States Constitution guarantees freedom of religious expression for all citizens; and WHEREAS, Freedom of speech is a cherished liberty which our Baptist forebears defended at great personal sacrifice; and Read More

Resolution No. 6
ON REDUCING TEEN SMOKING
WHEREAS, Human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27); and WHEREAS, Being created in the image of God endows humans with great dignity and inestimable worth; and Read More

Resolution No. 7
ON APPRECIATION OF OUR TROOPS AND PRESIDENT
WHEREAS, Members of the United States military and allied forces continue to be aggressively engaged in the ongoing global war on terror; and WHEREAS, Our troops play a vital role in preserving and protecting freedom in the United States and throughout the world; and Read More

Resolution No. 8
ON EVANGELISM
WHEREAS, Man, as a special creation of God, the only creature uniquely created in His image, chose to sin against his Creator through willful disobedience and is therefore guilty before God and deserving of eternal wrath; and Read More

Resolution No. 9
ON APPRECIATION
WHEREAS, The messengers to the 148th annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention have enjoyed a time of encouragement, worship, unity, and the direction of the Holy Spirit; and Read More

[melinky]

We have a really good school system where I live, so I think the majority of my church's kids are in public school.

As for myself, being a single mom, there isn't adequate time for homeschool, so that isn't an option for us. I'm not sure I would, even if I could though; I'm not sure homeshcooled children are socialized enough. Also, they have to learn to deal with the secular world at some point. I would probably have less problem with a Christian private school, however, I know from a friend who attended and another that sent her daughter to a local Christian high school, they can often be as bad as the public schools. This is mostly due to the large number of kids with ample funds and parents who are unavailable. Since I can't afford private school, I'll probably stick to public school and work hard on living like a Christian at home.

One thing that helps ease my mind is that Texas isn't always as politcally correct in matters of religion as other places. I believe that the majority of the teachers in our school district are Christians and they don't hide it. Some schools even allow teachers to have prayer meetings.

Yours in Christ,

Melinda

[rgrove]

My wfie and I will definitely homeschool if we're still here in Portland, OR. The system is hyper liberal here. It's considered one of the most "unchurched" cities in the country and the NW in general is considered the most unchurched part of the country. Debora's teachers in Arkansas were all Christians, though, so if we move to a part of the country where the people in the system are anti-christian like they are here (and I mean it, they're not agnostic on the issue, they're anti-christian here...) then we'll consider regular schools. But we're still inclined to homeschool anyhow. We've recognized the socialization issue and are determined not to let that happen. There are many ways our friends use to do it.