‘Engage the culture,’ Bunkley tells Florida Baptists

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—As Florida’s political leaders prepare to gather March 17 for the annual Florida Leadership Prayer Breakfast, Florida Baptists’ legislative consultant is urging Christians to be in prayer for the state’s leadership—and to keep their eyes on Tallahassee during the annual legislative session, scheduled to run through May 1.

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In an interview with Florida Baptist Witness, Bill Bunkley—a Tallahassee veteran and Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant—outlined legislation Christians should be aware of as the Legislature is picking up speed in its second week of the 60 day session.

Bunkley, a long-time member of Tampa’s Idlewild Baptist Church, cited five priorities for the 2005 legislative session: Enacting legislation following adoption of Amendment 1, concerning parental notification, and Amendment 4, concerning slot machines in South Florida; the Woman’s Health and Safety Act; funding for a new pregnancy support services initiative; and legislation that would defend Terri Schiavo—a bill regarding the withdrawal of nutrition and hydration and a bill regarding guardianship for persons like Schiavo.

[For more on legislative developments in the Schiavo matter, see “Terri Schiavo’s mom cites power of prayer after denials” and “Rally at the Florida Capitol, Pinellas Park prayer vigil draw hundreds of Terri Schiavo supporters”. For more on legislative developments on Amendment 4 and slot machines, see “Split Decision: Slots lose in Miami-Dade, win in Broward,”.]

After Florida’s voters resoundingly adopted Amendment 1—with nearly 65 percent support—the Legislature is now empowered to write legislation requiring parental notice before girls may have an abortion, Bunkley said Florida Baptists need to watch how Tallahassee writes the bill.

Bunkley expects some legislators will attempt to “insert as many exceptions as possible to render the amendment useless and of no effect.” Noting that legislators have long argued for exceptions for rape, incest and to allow a judicial bypass for minors who fear for their safety, Bunkley said that he is concerned that pro-abortion advocates will attempt to allow a health-of-the-mother exception that is so broad that “abortion clinic doctors can justify all sorts” of abortions.

Pro-life advocates will try a third time to pass the Woman’s Health and Safety Act (HB 1041/SB 1862) introduced by Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland. The bill would require abortion facilities to meet the same health and safety regulations as other medical facilities. The bill failed to pass beyond the House of Representatives last year.

Bunkley also lauded Gov. Bush’s new Pregnancy Support Services Program initiative that has been included in the governor’s budget request to the Legislature this year. The new program will be managed out of the governor’s office and will be funded at $4 million if the Legislature approves the governor’s request.

Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings announced the new program at a Jacksonville news conference Feb. 28 and gave a Mar. 3 interview to the Witness about the new program, which will provide assistance to women in crisis pregnancies and encourage those women to reject abortion.

Citing as an example that there are 55 abortion providers in Miami while only five entities that offer pro-life alternatives, Jennings told the Witness, “We’re way outnumbered and we don’t need to be.” [For more on the program, see, “Lt. Gov. touts new pregnancy support program” Mar. 10 issue].

As the legislative session continues throughout March and April, Bunkley urged Florida Baptists to stay informed. The Florida Baptist Convention electronically publishes a survey of bills of interest on its Web site, available at: www.flbaptist.org/news/capitol_concerns.htm. Interested persons also may sign-up to receive the information via e-mail.

“We are one of many groups of ‘stakeholders’ among the population of our state,” Bunkley said. “Losing the vote on Amendment 4 last November should be a giant wake up call that we are losing key battles. No longer can we be satisfied in huddling with other church family members and not positively engage the culture.

“If we shy away, one day it just might be illegal to share or preach our convictions in an open manner, like our brothers and sisters in Canada are currently experiencing,” Bunkley warned. “Many oppose the Lord’s principals. We all must be ready to stand in the gap if we are to maintain our Christian way of life as we enjoy it today.”