Annual of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1971.

              72 1971 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
157. Wallace Denton (Ind.) presented Resolution No. 3 (see Item
54) and moved its adoption. The motion passed.
Resolution No. 3—On Prison Reform
W H E R E A S , A need for radical reform in American prison systems is demon­strated
in over-crowded, unsanitary, and destructive conditions, and
W H E R E A S , In many prison systems punishment prevails rather than re­demptive
rehabilitation, and
W H E R E A S , The indiscriminate detention of prisoners together continues re­gardless
of the nature of their offiense, their age, or the likelihood of their restora­tion
to society, and
W H E R E A S , Few if any state departments of corrections have been provided
the funds needed to pay adequate salaries to prison officers and to hire an adequate
number of case workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists,
Therefore, be it Resolved, that this Convention call upon Southern Baptists to
follow the teaching of Jesus by caring for those in prison by working to provide
funding, education, ministries, and other innovative programs, and expanded
parole alternatives necessary to make prisons more honestly correctional, and
Be it further Resolved, that we urge Southern Baptists to work with com­munity
leaders and elected officials for more humane and more Christian treat­ment
of offenders, and
Be it further Resolved, That we call upon prison officials in federal, state, and
local systems to maximize education and vocational training in their rehabilitative
efforts.
158. Denton presented Resolution No. 4 (see Item 62) and moved
its adoption. Hugo Lindquist (Okla.) moved to amend the resolution
by deleting the last paragraph. The motion lost. James Garland (Ky.)
moved to amend the last paragraph by leaving out the words "and
carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the
emotional, mental,". The amendment lost. The previous question was
moved and passed. The resolution was adopted.
Resolution No. 4—On Abortion
W H E R E A S , Christians in the American society today are faced with difficult
decisions about abortion ; and
W H E R E A S , Some advocate that there be no abortion legislation, thus making
the decision a purely private matter between a woman and her doctor; and
W H E R E A S , Others advocate no legal abortion, or would permit abortion only
if the life of the mother is threatened;
Therefore, be it Resolved, that this Convention express the belief that society
has a responsibility to affirm through the laws of the state a high view of the
sanctity of human life, including fetal life, in order to protect those who cannot
protect themselves; and
Be it further Resolved, That we call upon Southern Baptists to work for legis­lation
that will allow the possibility of abortion under such conditions as rape, in-
C5S?u iar,?-.lde,nc<_ °,f severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence
of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the
mother.
159. Nolan Kennedy (Ore.) presented Resolution No. 5 and moved
its adoption. Hugh Maddox (Ala.) moved to amend by adding "and
the state bar associations" after "American Bar Association." The
amendment passed. The resolution was adopted.
Resolution No. 5—On Judicial Reform
_ W H E R E A S , Crowded civil and criminal trial dockets are resulting in increas­ing
delays before trial; and
W H E R E A S , Long delays infringe upon the basic constitutional right to a
speedy trial; and
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