First, Jacksonville Proposes Change to BMA of Texas Doctrinal Statement

To guard our departments, especially Jacksonville College, from government interference in light of the LGBTQ+ influence in today’s society, we, the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Texas, in a special called business meeting on September 15, 2024, voted to recommend to the messenger body of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas to adjust the wording of Articles III C and D of our Baptist Missionary Association of Texas Doctrinal Statement to match the wording in the BMA of America Doctrinal Statement.

Current Wording of Article III:

C. Man--God created man in His own image. As the crowning work of creation, every person is of dignity and worth and merits the respect of all other persons (Ps. 8; Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 10:28-31).

D. Marriage--God created Adam and Eve and joined them together as husband and wife. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman according to the Divine Plan of God (Genesis 2).

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Proposed Wording Changes to Article III:

C. Man—As the crowning work of His creation, God created humankind (male and female) in His own image (Psa. 8; Gen. 1:27; 2:7). Consequently, every person from conception is of inherent dignity and worth and merits the respect of all other persons (Psa. 51:5; Psa. 139:13-16; Gen. 9:6; Matt. 10:28-31; James 3:9).

D. Marriage—God created marriage (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:23-24). Jesus Christ declared the creator’s intention for marriage to be the inseparable and exclusive union between a man and a woman (natural man and natural woman) (Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9). Marriage testifies of the union between Christ and the church (Eph. 5:31-32; Rom. 1:25-27). ​