We would like to express our appreciation to the Tri-City Baptist Church and its fine pastor, Dr. Carl Herbster, for their graciousness in hosting the 68th annual meeting of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship. The combined efforts of the church staff and membership have contributed to making our stay in the"Heartland of America" an enjoyable and enriching experience.

We would also like to gratefulness, in particular, to Rev. Matt Williams, the local conference coordinator; to Miss Sarah Zoschke and Miss Beverly Oller, conference secretaries; to Jerry and Elaine Wass, conference musicians; and to many other unnamed individuals who labored quietly in the background. Their sacrificial ministry is greatly appreciated by the participants of this conference.

We would also like to thank the Adams Mark Hotel management and staff for the lovely facilities provided for this conference.

RESOLUTION CONCERNING MORAL FIDELITY IN THE MINISTRY

WHEREAS, the Scripture predicts a definite decline in moral conditions in the"Last Days"; AND WHEREAS, statistical facts and obvious evidence abound to indicate that these con ditions are prevalent in our society today, the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship expresses its deep concern overthese unwholesome trends.

We further express our chagrin and embarrassment over certain noted electronic television preachers who are guilty of adultery and/or other grievous moral sins, yet who continue in the ministry in spite of their wicked conduct. Since such ungodly behavior has been exploited and widely reported in the national media, we would like to let the world know that this national fellowship of fundamental Baptists does not endorse or condone such sinful behavior. Such ungodly conduct is an embarrassment to scores of godly preachers who are attempting to maintain high standards of moral conduct before their people, and we believe the cause of Christ would be furthered by their withdrawal from the ministry.

AND WHEREAS, the national media has exploited the immoral conduct of certain noted charismatic electronic preachers, carelessly terming them as "Fundamentalists"; AND WHEREAS such careless use of terminology has created an incorrect impression to the general public that biblical Fundamentalists may hold similar theological views and also conduct themselves gener ally in a similar manner, thus casting an unfavorable and improper reflection upon the biblical fundamentalist movement, we urge the media to use accuracy in its reporting of events within the religious world.

We candidly admit, however, that the "sins of the flesh" so prevalent in society today, are beginning to affect the framework even of biblical Fundamentalist ranks, taking an increasing spiritual toll even among some of our own beloved brethren, and we express our grave concern over such defections, as well as deep disappointment with those brethren who have been unfaithful to their biblical vows concerning moral purity.

To our own brethren within the ranks of biblical funda mentalism who have been overtaken by the sins of the flesh and who have become spiritual dropouts in the ministry due to their moral default, we express our sincere prayers and earnest de sires for their repentance, offering our compassion and assistance for their personal restoration to the joys of the Christian life, ever recognizing the difference between restoration of fellowship with the Lord and the local church and restoration to leadership.

To stem this increasing moral defection, we issue a plea for renewed holiness of character and conduct within our fundamentalist ministerial ranks. Since the Scriptures emphasize the importance of both moral purity in outward conduct and Christ likeness of character in the inner soul, we call upon fundamentalist brethren everywhere, ourselves included, to maintain the high standards for Christian conduct set forth in holy writ, refraining and restraining from the sins of the flesh. We also exhort all soldiers of the cross, ourselves included, to earnestly strive toward that inner sanctification of character and spirit through daily crucifixion of the sinful nature and by the faith of the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself on our behalf.

Finally, we commend the hundreds of godly preachers who have not yielded to the immoral trends of our sin-cursed society, and whose lives exemplify the Gospel, maintaining and manifesting high biblical standards in their personal conduct, their families, and the ministries with which they are associated.