Southern Baptists Urge Barack Obama to Restrict Abortion

Malcom Yarnell, chairman of the resolutions committee, referred to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion as "the greatest moral tragedy in the last 35 years of American history."

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, a conservative group, held its 10th annual meeting this week at Houston's First Baptist Church.

Conference attendees, or messengers, approved 10 resolutions, including four concerning theological issues and three addressing moral issues, Yarnell said.

Among them was one supporting the "traditional Biblical view" that marriage is between a man and a woman. All levels of government were urged to sponsor legislation to endorse their view.

Another protested "efforts to suppress the free expression of Christian beliefs -- whether in the cause of tolerance, unity, science or secular faith."

In other business, the convention re-elected the Rev. Bob Pearle, pastor of Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, for a second term as president. The Rev. Kevin Ueckert, senior pastor of Abilene's South Side Baptist, was elected first vice president, and second vice president Jimmy Pritchard, pastor of First Baptist in Forney, was re-elected without opposition.

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention started in November 1998 with 120 churches, splitting from the more moderate Baptist General Convention of Texas. SBTC is dedicated to missions, evangelism and support of the Southern Baptist Convention. It now includes more than 2,000 churches.

Source: Houston Chronicle