Today the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest protestant denomination) passed the resolution below (presented by Dr. Russell Moore) on adoption and orphan care! This has huge potential for the sake of the fatherless! Pray that an adoption culture will take root and spread in the churches represented by the SBC. I can’t wait to see what God has in store!
“On Adoption and Orphan Care”
WHEREAS, in the gospel we have received the “Spirit of adoption” whereby we are no longer spiritual orphans but are now beloved children of God and joint heirs with Christ
(John 14:18; Rom. 8:12-25; Gal. 3:27-4:9; Eph. 1:5); andWHEREAS, the God we now know as our Father reveals himself as a “father of the fatherless” (Ps. 68:5) who grants mercy to orphans (Deut. 10:18; Hos. 14:3); and
WHEREAS, our Lord Jesus welcomes the little ones (Luke 18:15-17), pleads for the lives of the innocent (Ps. 72:12-14), and shows us that we will be held accountable for our response to “the least of these my brethren” (Matt. 25:40); and
WHEREAS, the Scripture defines “pure and undefiled religion” as “to visit orphans and widows in their trouble” (Jas. 1:27); and
WHEREAS, the satanic powers have warred against infants and children from Pharaoh to Moloch to Herod and, now, through the horrors of a divorce culture, an abortion industry, and the global plagues of disease, starvation, and warfare; and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have articulated an unequivocal commitment to the sanctity of all human life, born and unborn; and
WHEREAS, a denomination of churches defined by the Great Commission must be concerned for the evangelism of children—including those who have no parents; and
WHEREAS, upward of 150 million orphans now languish without families in orphanages, group homes, and placement systems in North America and around the world; and
WHEREAS, our Father loves all of these children, and a great multitude of them will never otherwise hear the gospel of Jesus Christ; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, June 23-24, 2009, express our commitment as a denomination of churches to join our Father in seeking mercy for orphans; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we call on each Southern Baptist family to pray for guidance as to whether God is calling them to adopt or foster a child or children; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we encourage our pastors and church leaders to preach and teach on God’s concern for orphans; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we commend churches and ministries that are equipping families to provide financial and other resources to those called to adopt, through grants, matching funds, or loans; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we ask our International Mission Board and North American Mission Board to prioritize the evangelism of and ministry to orphans around the world, and to seek out ways to energize Southern Baptists behind this mission; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we encourage Southern Baptist churches to join with other evangelical Christians in recognizing November 8, 2009, as “Orphan Sunday,” focusing that day on our adoption in Christ and our common burden for the orphans of the world; and be it further
RESOLVED, that we hope what God is doing in creating an adoption culture in so many churches and families can point us to a gospel oneness that is defined not by “the flesh” racial, economic, or cultural sameness but by the Spirit unity and peace in Christ Jesus; and be it finally
RESOLVED, that we pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit on Southern Baptist congregations so that our churches increasingly will announce and picture, in word and in deed, that “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.”
The ABBA Fund Blog 
Experientially, I know little about the SBC from a top down denominational level. Do you think these are just bureaucratic words that most pastors don’t really take to heart, or do resolutions like this actually have an impact on the local pastor on the ground?
Just curious on your take…
z
YES!
Yay! So glad to hear this!
Zach,
That is a great question. My sense is that at this is more of a statement than something that will initially have widespread impact on local pastors on the ground. That said, it is an important statement to be made by the denomination and it has a lot of support from key voices in the SBC (young and old!). I do pray it will have big impact. It is very encouraging that there seems to be a growing movement within the SBC when it comes to churches and local pastors recognizing God’s heart for the fatherless and the biblical call to the church to act on this. More and more churches are starting adoption/orphan ministries and as this resolution aims for they are aiming to not merely create ministries/programs but cultures of adoption/orphan care. It is also encouraging that some big and influential SBC churches have established adoption ministries already as well.
I think the potential is massive. I am really curious to see how it fleshes out in local churches as you mentioned.
I agree with Jason, and would add that this resolution was written by Dr. Russell Moore Vice President and Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Seminary. He is also an adoptive day who just published a new book called Adopted For Life. This delclaration is very important because it will validate the growing movement and work of God in orphan ministry in the church and the absolute connection to the Gospel. Thanks Abba Fund for sharing this wonderful news for us.
Paul Pennington
Executive Director of Hope for Orphans
a ministry of FamilyLife
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So excited about this! What an answer to prayer!
I think this is awesome, but why adopt these kids and not give them the Christian education they need. Why did That resolution not pass?
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I’m not SBC but I’m a close supporting friend :). My wife and I are pursuing adoption, this will be our third child, and my prayer is that as a pastor of a church of “child-bearing” years that our choice will influence the choices of others in our congregation and out. I believe that when SBC pastors and leaders start adopting children either domestically or internationally this movement will gain momentum. I certainly hope it does.
Thanks for posting this. For what it’s worth I applaud this resolution.
Our “Engedi Foundation” ministry organisation is now begining to care the 17 orphan and destitute children’s in the area of ministry, more than 50 have apply for the admission in the home and school. please may we apply for grant funds to help us this our Engdi Foundation Children Home. Please remember us in your prayer, Thank you.