"Resolution on Christ's Leadership: Resolution approved by the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the GARBC, meeting for their 72nd Annual Conference in Riverside, California, June 23-27, 2003 .

"Whereas Christ's leadership was:

• Authentic in Life - 1 Peter 1:16
  
• Compassionate in Care - John 11; Mark 1:41
  
• Effective in Communication - John 1:14, Mark 1:22
  
• Intercessory in Ministry - John 17
  
• Focused in Mission - John 5:19
  
• Forgiving in Failure - Matthew 18:21-35
  
• Humble in Service - Mark 10:45; John 13
  
• International in Vision - Matthew 28:18-20
  
• Purposeful in Equipping - Matthew 4:19
  
• Resolute in Persecution - Hebrews 11:35-40

Be it therefore resolved that we, the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the GARBC, meeting for our 72nd Annual Conference in Riverside, California, June 23-27, 2003:

Personally strive to develop the characteristics of Christ's leadership and therefore lead as Christ led! (1 Corinthians 11:1)

And whereas Christ characterized His leadership after the models of a servant (Mark 10:45) and a shepherd (John 10:11; Mark 6:34); And whereas the New Testament epistles teach these are to be the basic models for the church today, namely, some church leaders are to be servants (deacons--1 Timothy 3:8-13) and some are to be shepherds (pastors--1 Timothy 3:1-7; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2, 3); And since historically, we as Baptists have made it one of our Biblical distinctives to have our churches function under the leadership of these two offices, namely, servants (deacons) and shepherds (pastors);

Be it further resolved that we, the messengers of the churches in fellowship with the GARBC, meeting for our 72nd Annual Conference in Riverside, California, June 23-27, 2003 . . .

1. . . . realize the need to avoid current or natural tendencies toward a leadership style that is modeled after a dictator of a regime, a president of an organization, or a strategist in a competitive market, but to encourage one another that a commitment to Christ’s pattern of leadership is consistent with Biblical truth and historic Baptist teaching.

2. . . . renew our commitment to the two models of leadership Christ displayed and taught, namely, being servants and shepherds, and educate ourselves and those coming to places of leadership in these models of Biblical leadership. "