Georgia Baptists approve 5 resolutions; one to keep ‘biological males’ out of female sporting events

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JONESBORO, Ga. – Messengers to the Georgia Baptist Convention’s annual meeting have approved a resolution calling for churches to urge lawmakers to pass a law that would keep biological males from competing in sporting events for females.

“It makes sense that the biological males should compete in sporting events against biological males and biological females should compete in sporting events against biological females, because the very nature of who they are at birth puts them naturally into one of two gender categories,” says the resolution approved Tuesday at First Baptist of Jonesboro.

The resolution, submitted by Lisa Kinnemore, a messenger from Briarlake Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., was one of five that got thumbs up from the messengers.

“It is simply not fair for girls to be forced to compete against those that they physically are not equal to, and it is too high a risk to not protect their health and wellbeing as female athletes,” the resolution said.

The resolution “strongly” urges Georgia Baptist churches “to support efforts in local schools and in the state legislature to enact laws that protect the integrity of girls sports in high school and college.”

Messengers also approved a resolution that calls for Georgia lawmakers to remove an “obscenity exception” that allows distribution of obscene material in libraries.

The resolution, submitted by Marsha Metzger, a messenger from Lenox Baptist Church in Lenox, Ga., says an “obscenity exception” has allowed materials harmful to minors to be distributed in schools and libraries in the name of sex education, health education and bullying prevention.

Another resolution approved on Tuesday calls on all Georgia Baptist churches to implement security systems to prevent church shootings.

The resolution submitted by Micah Hamrick, messenger from First Baptist Church of Villa Rica, calls for churches to “screen volunteers who are asked to take on security responsibilities within a church to ensure the best trained individuals are in place to provide the highest possible security.”

It also encourages state lawmakers to continue supporting and enacting legislation that allows churches to make decisions regarding the use of weapons on their property.

Messengers also approved a resolution to “declare again our steadfast opposition to the unfettered use of alcohol.”

The resolution says alcohol sales were reported to have increased more than 50 percent while people were under stay-at-home-orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Alcohol use brings untold misery to American families, acting as a contributing factor in divorce, child abuse, spouse abuse, birth defects, and suicide,” according to the resolution submitted by Tommy Fountain Sr., pastor of 1025 Church in Monroe, Ga.

The resolution urges Georgia Baptist families and churches “to work at educating children and young people concerning the nature and consequences of alcohol use, pointing them toward a responsible Christian lifestyle that abstains from the participation in the use of alcohol and all other mind-altering drugs.”

The resolution calls for state lawmakers “to maintain ALL current restrictions on the use of alcohol and tighten any restrictions possible on access to alcohol by minors.”

Messengers also approved a resolution of appreciation to First Baptist Church of Jonesboro for hosting the annual meeting and the Southside Baptist Network for its hospitality and service during the annual meeting.