1993 – Resolution: Our Baptist Heritage

WHEREAS the Scripture enjoins us in II Thessalonians 2: 15 “to stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or by our epistle,” and

WHEREAS Roger Williams and John Clarke were vigorous in following these Scriptural traditions in building Baptist Churches in this New World, and

WHEREAS the New Hampshire Confession of Faith and Philadelphia Baptist Association (1707) carried these traditions forward with a balanced and committed presentation of doctrine with its practical outworking through separation, and

WHEREAS the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, as it was originally conceived, once brought this godly way of life to many in our generation,

NOW THEREFORE the members of the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America, gathered at their Third Annual Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, June 21-23, do hereby resolve “to stand fast and hold the traditions” we have been taught from Scripture, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we commit ourselves both to practice and to preach the Baptist distinctives as revealed in the Word, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will not negotiate away our Biblical convictions for any person or agency, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will not impose convictions on others through fiat or any political or religious manipulation, but will recognize people’s right to believe or not believe, and will use this liberty to convince them of the truth through the Spirit of God’s work of grace, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we appreciate our godly heritage flowing out of the Scripture and through Roger Williams, John Clarke, the New Hampshire Baptist Confession, the Philadelphia Baptist Association, and the GARBC as it once was, and we seek to carry this heritage on until the coming of our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.