1996 – Resolution on Extramarital Unions and Benefits

WHEREAS, homosexuality is condemned by God, both in the Old and New Testament Scriptures (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1 :27), and

WHEREAS, the divine design for marriage has been one man and one woman for life since the tie of Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:24; I Cor. 6:9, 10). and

WHEREAS, the New Testament teaches that it is the duty of a man, as the head of his household, to provide for his family, or be identified as one who denies the faith, who is “worse than an infidel” (I Tim. 5:8). and

WHEREAS, governments, federal, stale, and local. are beginning to recognize so-called “domestic partnerships” as equal to marriage and/or are considering legislation that would legally sanction same-sex unions, as well as unmarried couples, with all of the rights and benefits previously limited to heterosexual marriages,

BE IT NOW THEREFORE RESOLVED that we, the members of the IBFNA, meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 18-20, 1996, do hereby resolve to condemn those actions by some special interests and government leaders that sanction homosexual practices, thereby attempting to grant a measure of respectability to conduct God clearly condemns as an abomination according to the Scriptures.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we oppose any legalization of unions other than the bonds of matrimony between one man and one woman, for life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we urge our legislators to include platform planks that advocate and protect the institution of marriage and press our legislators (federal and state) to pass legislation which meets this end.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we oppose the granting of dependent rights and benefits to homosexual partners and unmarried heterosexual partners that were designed to care for an employee’s dependent family members, helping him to fulfill his duty to provide for their needs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we recognize this as a major assault upon the traditional family and home that reflects the failure of those in authority: 1) to submit to the clear instruction of the Word of God; 2) to support the basic building block of our society which made our nation morally stronger in the past; and 3) to stand for what is morally right, rather than politically correct.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we will strive to preach and to serve the Lord to strengthen the homes and families in our churches, especially teaching our young people the high standards of God in marriage and the biblical roles of men as husbands and fathers and the roles of women as wives and mothers.