One Senator received the communication below and responded as follows:

Message to the Senator:

I wonder what the response to the National Ministers' Council vote failing to ratify changes in their constitution will mean in our regions?  Will the leadership in Valley Forge have the courage to disenfranchise the Ministers Council for failing to comply with the policy of the ABC-USA?  Will regional ministers councils withdraw from the National because of this?

Right now the results of the vote are overshadowed by hurricane Katrina and other matters.  But the news will be broadcast and we should be prepared for the responses that come.

The Senator's response:

The impact the Ministers Council senate decisions will have on our regions will be determined in large part on how clearly they are understood and how well they are communicated.  Succumbing to the temptation to put a negative spin on the proceedings will guarantee a more negative response in your region.  For example, the Senate did not "fail" when they voted down the proposed bylaw amendment nor are they "failing" to comply with the policy of ABC-USA.  No one needs to find "the courage to disenfranchise" anyone.

While some will attempt to characterize the vote on the bylaw amendment as a referendum on homosexuality, the reality is that the proposal was ill conceived and poorly written and, if approved, would have done violence to our Baptist principles of soul liberty, the authority of scripture, autonomy and interdependence.  It was defeated for many good reasons.

A far more accurate and positive message to communicate to your region is embodied in the resolution that the Senate overwhelmingly approved.  In it they reaffirmed that all Senators must uphold the biblical principles embodied in the Code of Ethics (including "I will . . . endeavor to maintain sexual integrity") and urged all councils to give due consideration to all of the policies, resolutions, and statements of concern of the ABC/USA (including the resolution declaring "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching") when electing Senators.

I have included the text of that resolution below for your use.

  "Whereas a year ago an amendment to our bylaws proposing to govern the selection of Senators to the Ministers Council Senate was introduced for consideration, and

  "Whereas the Ministers Council determined to spend a year discerning the convictions of its members through a series of meetings patterned after the Jerusalem Council in the Book of Acts, and

  "Whereas the final outcome of those meetings and the individual responses received revealed a strong commitment throughout our constituency for the Baptist principles of the authority of scripture, autonomy, and interdependence,

Therefore, the Ministers Council Senate:

  "Reaffirms that all representatives to the Ministers Council Senate must be members in good  standing who uphold the biblical principles embodied in the Covenant and Code of Ethics for Ministerial Leaders of American Baptist Churches

  "Urges our constituent councils to give due consideration to all the policies, resolutions, and statements of concern of the ABC/USA when electing representatives to the Ministers Council Senate.

  "And following the example of James as recorded in Acts 15, instructs the President and Executive Director to communicate this resolution to all constituent councils and each of our national and regional partners in the ABC/USA.

Resolved this twenty-third day of August, 2005 in Green Lake, Wisconsin"

If you have any further questions about the Senate proceedings or how to accurately communicate its decisions in a less destructive way to your region, please feel free to contact me.