The messengers of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, meeting together in regular conference June 21–25, 2010, in Schaumburg, Illinois,
Recognizing that the Secretary of Defense has established a Comprehensive Review Working Group to conduct an assessment of issues associated with the possible repeal of 10 U.S.C. 654 (commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”), which would allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military,
Realizing that on May 27, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Murphy amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 that would repeal the sections of the law that relate to the limitation of those who are openly practicing a homosexual lifestyle while serving in the military, and that same day the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee passed the same measure in a 16 to 12 vote to be included in the Defense Authorization Act,
Responding to a letter from the Armed Forces Chaplain’s Board in which endorsing denominational bodies have been invited to give our views on the matter,
Recognizing that there are those who practice homosexuality presently serving in the military, and that our chaplains are providing compassionate Christ-like care to all service members and their families,
Holding that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and our only infallible rule for faith and practice, and affirming that homosexual activity is prohibited by the Holy Scriptures (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:18–32),
Recognizing that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34), we
Express our position that no further changes to the current policy be made into law;
Call upon the members of our fellowshipping churches to contact their respective U.S. Representatives and Senators, asking them to vote to maintain the current policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;”
We further call upon the churches in our fellowship to express Christ-like compassion without condoning the behavior of those who proclaim a homosexual lifestyle, and to pray for our government and military leaders (I Tim. 2:1–2).
