We would like to begin this press conference by saying welcome and thank-you to all who have taken the time to attend this important declaration. I especially want to thank those pastors and ministry leaders who took the time from their busy schedules and responsibilities to be here today. We honor you and the work you are doing in your communities.
My name is Kevin Baird, and I am the Lead Pastor of Legacy Church, in Charleston, SC, as well as the Field Director of The Alliance. The Alliance is a network of hundreds of South Carolina Pastors and Christian Leaders who advocate in the civic arena over public policy concerns from a biblical worldview in primarily the areas of faith, family and freedom. The Alliance is led by our Executive Director, Pastor Mike Gonzalez, who is the Lead Pastor of Columbia World Outreach and whom I will hand over this podium momentarily to share our declaration.
The Alliance believes that Pastors play a critical and primary role in both the codification of public policy as well as the accountability of the civic leader. The Scripture teaches that communities and cities have “elders at the gate” and “watchmen on the wall” which monitor the well-being of the citizenry. Pastors are the most direct application of those community leaders. Scripturally, both the pastor and the government representative no matter the office, while functioning in different jurisdictions, are considered ministers under God. We can perhaps debate the earthly lines of authority and accountability for all of us, but there is no debate that every person no matter their status, their position, or responsibility, will one day answer to the Lord of all for their actions, their decisions and their life. Politicians are not hermetically sealed off from this eternal reality. What they do in this Statehouse is as accountable to God as any other person.
Today, after watching the tumultuous weeks of this legislative season, as well as the years of legislative paralysis, the time has come for a pastoral admonishment and rebuke of those officials who have failed in providing justice for the preborn. It is spiritually important that this declaration be made in this place. For long after we leave from this moment, we believe the reverberation of these words will continue to resonate in these halls by the Holy Spirit Himself, and speak to every senator and representative until truth and justice for the most vulnerable and neglected amongst us, the preborn, is once again established.
At this time, I want to introduce to you our Executive Director of The Alliance, Pastor Mike Gonzalez.
[MIKE GONZALEZ REMARKS / READ LETTER]
Thank-you Kevin…
An Open Letter to the South Carolina Senate, the SCGOP, and establishment Pro-Life lobbying groups…
It is with no small sense of sadness that the leadership of The Alliance has issued this letter of rebuke and admonishment. The biblical word “rebuke” means, “to express sharp disapproval or criticism over one’s actions”. The word “admonish” means, “to warn or reprimand someone firmly”. As a body of elected officials and cultural influencers you have warranted both of these actions, not based solely upon the disappointment of failing to act upon a political agenda, but rather failing to respond in obedience to a direct precept in Scripture which clearly speaks to the sin of abortion.
This legislative year you had the opportunity to both lobby and bring S-217 (Personhood) to the Senate floor and actually address the cultural iniquity of abortion. There was a moment a great opportunity presented itself to actually do something righteous and historic; yet, through the weeds of senate rules, political pragmatism, and the fear of the judiciary, you chose to let it die in the graveyard of contested bills.
You have been reminded consistently concerning the Scripture and what God says in multiplied places and ways concerning the shedding of innocent blood. Posting more Bible verses to document this reality is no longer needful. Most of you claim Christianity as a personal faith and indeed, according to many of your resumes you are leaders in Christ’s Church. It should come as no surprise to you that there are significant numbers of pastors, Christian leaders, and grassroots believers who are righteously frustrated and even angry. This is not a carnal outrage, but rather an appropriate expression of the heart of the Lord as the blood of the children continue to cry out to Him. Rather than take seriously the call of God to civic ministry which you hold, instead, you have equivocated and compromised your responsibilities to things of lesser concern. While we would affirm many things represented in your “family values package” which took precedence in the legislature, the thought of regulating liquor licenses, abortion tools, and even the sin of prostitution in the light of the 45 years of convenience killing of children does not even compare. All sin, iniquity and injustice is lamentable, but not all sin is the same nor should it be prioritized as such.
One can only guess at why such maneuvering takes place amongst a group of self-identified Christian political leaders and lobbyists. To speculate what motives are at play is undoubtedly useless. However, each heart is already laid bare before the God of Whom we shall all give account. The 45 years of abortion on demand and the 19 year history of circumventing Personhood legislation is now squarely at the door of the South Carolina Senate and those who give them political cover by allowing them use of the label, “pro-life”. Rest assured, each man and woman, will one day give an account before the Judge of all the universe.
Please, do not embarrass yourselves by echoing a response from this era’s relentless convolution of words by accusing us of being “unloving” or “unChristlike” in this rebuke. In like manner, please do not patronize us by suggesting we are unsophisticated, political novices who fail to understand how the political “sausage” is made. The greatest act of love is to warn another that they are trifling with things that the Lord considers sacred. It is an act of incredible compassion to remind you that disobedience is always complex and obedience is simple. The Scripture is clear that even “partial” obedience is still considered disobedience in the eyes of the Lord. We are not judging you; we are loving you. We love you enough to simply say the word, “repent”. The legislative agenda and the so-called political strategies of man simply do not get a “pass” or exemption from the God of the Scriptures. It is time that you fulfill the call which you received and accepted as God’s Will when you entered this ministry (Romans 13). May the Lord Himself give you the courage to do what is right so years from now as you stand before Him, you’ll be glad you did. To those who advocated and worked for S-217, you have our greatest gratitude and sincere thanks. Your labor of justice has not nor will it go unnoticed by the Lord of all. May God grant you a voice to challenge your colleagues to similar obedience.
Respectfully,
At this time we would like to thank the following Senators who have been champions and heroes in this regard and whom we would consider legitimately PRO-LIFE
[LIST OF SENATORS]
We would also like to single out a number of senators of whom we are greatly disappointed, not just this legislative season, but through the years by their reluctance and obstructionism.
[The Democratic Party which resources continually Planned Parenthood]
[LIST: Senators Leatherman, Rankin, Massey, Campsen, Campbell, Senn]
We believe the time has come for a new political paradigm that includes pastoral influence and advocacy. This is not a Republican or Democrat thing. As you can clearly see, a republican dominated process which touts itself as pro-life, has failed to represent its constituency and more importantly, the values many of them claim to hold when they asked for our vote. This has less to do with Right and Left and more to do with right and wrong. We are here as pastors and we do not intend to go away. We will use our voice and influence which we are called to do, to advocate for those things God has clearly said are righteous.
As we conclude this press conference we are available for any questions by the media. There are numerous pastors in attendance and I am sure a number of them would be willing to visit with you and answer any questions from their perspective. Mike and I will be available as well should you have any follow-up needs. This press conference and letter will be available through numerous social media sites and we encourage everyone to share it freely.
Again, thank-you to all for being here. My hope is that these moments in the future will be few.
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