Neighboring Resolution Approved by the Missouri Baptist Convention Oct. 25, 2022

 


I was ready for the debate. Ready to argue in favor of loving our neighbors and in support of Missouri Good Neighbor Week.

I even had my script written and had the timing down to less than one-minute. The following script was typed out on my phone is 16pt font.

I rise to speak in favor of resolution #3 On Loving Your Neighbor. The opposite of loving your neighbor is not hate. The opposite of loving your neighbor is apathy. Research is showing us that Americans and Missourians have believed, for too long, that being a good neighbor means being quiet and leaving their neighbor alone. Only that is not love. It is apathy. Missouri Baptists have the opportunity here to show the nation what it means to get messy and love our neighbors. I would urge Missouri Baptist churches to equip members to become engaged neighbors and use the new Missouri good neighbor week as an opportunity to launch new neighborhood focused outreach and ministry efforts starting on the doorstep of every Missouri Baptists home. It is essential for the whole church, to take the whole gospel, to the whole city, one neighborhood at a time. I would urge the passage of this resolution.

But in the end, I never had to take the microphone. 

Instead, pastors and messengers from nearly 500 Southern Baptist churches in Missouri unanimously supported this resolution:

Resolution No. 3: On Loving Our Neighbor

WHEREAS, Matthew 22:39 has Jesus saying, " And the second is like it: You shall love your

neighbor as yourself." (ESV); and

WHEREAS, James 2:8 says, "If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, “Love your neighbor

as yourself,” you are doing right." (ESV); and

WHEREAS, Jeremiah 29:7 says, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,

and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (ESV); and

WHEREAS, research shows less than 30 percent of Americans know the names of any of their

neighbors and nearly one-third admit to not knowing the names of any of their neighbors1;

WHEREAS, we are created by our Triune God for social connections, developing relationships with

immediate neighbors is vital to overcoming isolation, depression, and loneliness, while being an essential

part of loving our neighbors; and

WHEREAS, neighboring is an opportunity to be thankful for those living nearest us, a chance to be a

blessing and to be gracious, and an opportunity to share the love of Christ (II Corinthians 5:17-20); and

WHEREAS, our communities and neighborhoods need to be undergirded by Christian love; and

WHEREAS, we are called to be active participants in our community and in building relationships

with unbelievers; and

WHEREAS, we recognize it is important for the whole church, to take the whole gospel, to the whole

city, one neighborhood at a time;

RESOLVED, that we, the messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention meeting in St. Charles,

Missouri, October 25, 2022, as Baptists, Christians, and Missourians, call on our fellow believers and

church leaders to be intentional about loving their immediate neighbors;

RESOLVED, that we commit ourselves to support and celebrate the recently established Missouri

Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) to establish and develop loving relationships with our

neighbors for the gospel's sake.

 

1For more information, see the Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon.


As a follow-up to the passage of this resolution, I did submit an article to the Missouri Pathway and it can be read online here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Five Cities Named Most Neighborly in Missouri for 2024

Image
  Photo above: From a block party in Ferguson, Missouri. New to Missouri Good Neighbor Week this year was recognition for the most neighborly cities in the state.  This honor was based on points earned by participating in the week, city campaigns and proclamations, residents making nominations for most engaged neighbor and reporting acts of neighboring, and statewide or local prizes won.  "The goal was to further engage cities with Missouri Good Neighbor Week and we had over 12 pass proclamations and at least 12 that had organized city-wide efforts for Missouri Good Neighbor Week," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "We ended the week with over 31,000 documented acts of neighboring and five cities worthy of the title 'most neighborly city' in Missouri." In 2024, five cities were named the most neighborly cities in Missouri: Houston, Excelsior Springs, Sikeston,...
Read more

MU Extension Announces Show Me Neighborhood Art Week June 1-15

Image
  To participate in Show Me Neighborhood Art Week, Missourians  must register here online . The registration deadline for Show Me Neighborhood Art Week is May 24. Preexisting and new public art can be registered, but only new art can be considered for prizes. The location for this event is ALL of Missouri -- your front yard, your neighborhood, and your community. The online state map marking locations around Missouri will be interactive. If you have questions, please see the contact emails at the end of this blog. SPRINGFIELD, MO. -  University of Missouri Extension has announced the launch of a new statewide public art exhibit called Show Me Neighborhood Art Week. This outreach program strives to promote creative expression and public art made by residents, regardless of their skill level, as a contribution to the community's sense of place and residents' sense of belonging. The initiative was inspired by LAWN (Lawn Art With Neighbors), a grassroots program launched in S...
Read more

Missouri's Most Engaged Neighbors Honored as Part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week

Image
  During Missouri Good Neighbor Week 2024, over 120 individuals were nominated as Missouri's Most Engaged Neighbor, and 22 were selected for individual recognition. Our Missouri celebration also got national attention from NextDoor, the social media company, whose leadership team worked with us to create a post that went out nationwide on NextDoor on Sept. 27.  You can access it here . At that point, another 50 nominations poured in from across the state. "The nominations were of really high quality this year," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and creator of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "Every nominee should have received a letter letting them know of the nomination and a memento, a Missouri Good Neighbor Week nominee keychain." The top nominees (22 this year) will receive a check for $100 and an official award certificate. In past years, there have been 50 to 60 nominations. But this year, the window for ...
Read more