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SBC 2016: Guide to St. Louis

The SBC 2016 is upon us. So, it is with great pleasure that we introduce our fourth annual ERLC guide to food and fun at the convention. We want to bring you the best of what St. Louis has to offer so that you can make the most of your time at the annual meeting. If you’d like a more in-depth view of some of these places from St. Louis native, Ronni Kurtz, be sure to check out the recent episode of the SBC This Week podcast.  And while you’re at the SBC, make plans to join the ERLC at these events:

FOOD

If you’re hungry, St. Louis has a lot to offer. Whether you’re looking for one of your favorite chains or for something new, you’ll find something to enjoy. But make sure you don’t leave without trying some of St. Louis’ local flavor. Here’s a list of options near the America's Center Convention Complex and around St. Louis. Enjoy!

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE

PI PIZZERIA – Serving some of St. Louis’ best pizza, featuring deep-dish and thin-crust options..

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ROSALITA’S CANTINA – If you’re craving Mexican food in St. Louis, Rosalita’s on the Washington Avenue Strip is your best option.

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BAILEYS’ RANGE – Who doesn’t love a good burger? If you love a quality burger, Baileys’ Range is the place for you. Their homemade ice cream is also a hit.

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ROOSTER – Voted “Best Breakfast in St. Louis.”

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TAZE MEDITERRANEAN STREET FOOD – Taze brings the flavors and ingredients from Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Israel and Spain to downtown St. Louis. They have a diverse menu that features everything from meats to sandwiches to salads.

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LUCAS PARK GRILLE – Lucas Park Grille offers brunch, lunch and dinner with a variety of food choices from fish to steaks to your favorite pasta.

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IMO’S PIZZA – In addition to pizza, Imo’s offers sandwiches, salads and pastas.

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SAUCE ON THE SIDE – Voted one of St. Louis’ top 20 restaurant’s in 2015, featuring up to a dozen calzones.

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PORANO PASTA – Porano Pasta is like Chipotle or Qdoba, except it’s all pasta. We hear their gelato pops are also a hit.

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PICKLES DELI – One of St. Louis’ award-winning delis.

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CURRYS INDIA RESTAURANT – Casual Indian-style restaurant offering an all-you-can-eat buffet, as well as serving made-to-order favorites. 

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WORTH THE DRIVE

BOGART’S SMOKEHOUSE – Some of St. Louis’ best barbeque. On the menu: smoky beef brisket, turkey, pulled pork and apricot-bruleed ribs.

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MAMA TOSCANO’S RAVIOLI – Located in the Italian-heavy, Hill District of St. Louis, MaMa Toscano’s is famous for its ravioli, but is also known for its selection of Italian sandwiches. They’ve also been featured on the Food Network’s show, “Best Thing I Ever Ate!”

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ELEVEN ELEVEN MISSISSIPPI – Eleven Eleven Mississippi blends rustic tuscan cuisine with a new world influence in a unique atmosphere. Located in the heart of the beautiful Lafayette Square neighborhood & situated in a restored historic brick warehouse, the restaurant's exceptional cuisine combined with its unprecedented style has made Eleven Eleven Mississippi a St. Louis favorite.

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PAPPY’S SMOKEHOUSE – Pappy’s was featured on The Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” and on Food Network’s, “Food Feud.” I hear the ribs are the best around.

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BRASSERIE BY NICHE – French cuisine with dinner only with brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

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UNION LOAFERS – Union Loafers is a cafe and bread bakery serving sandwiches, soups and salads.

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SWEETIE PIES – If you’re a fan of soul food, this Mississippi-style restaurant is a place you’ll want to visit. If that’s not convincing enough, Sweetie Pie’s has been featured on The Food Network’s show, “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”

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SCAPE AMERICAN BISTRO – Scape is an american style bistro with a European style located in the hip Maryland Plaza district.

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WHITE KNIGHT DINER – Featured on the Travel Channel’s show, Food Paradise, this breakfast and brunch diner won’t leave you hungry. We hear the “Super Slinger” which has hashbrowns, eggs, hamburger meat and is covered in chili is quite the hit.

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HIGHWAY 61 ROADHOUSE – Featured on The Food Network’s show, “Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.” Highway 61 brings New Orleans style food to St. Louis.

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THE SHAVED DUCK – If you want it, chances are The Shaved Duck has it. They’ve got everything from chicken to pork served in a variety of ways, not to mention they’ve been featured on The Food Network.

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PASTARIA – If you’re looking for a taste of authentic Italian food in St. Louis, Pastaria just might be the place for you with their pastas and brick-oven pizzas.

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BROADWAY OYSTER BAR – A St. Louis favorite, voted “Restaurant of the Year” in 2015 for creole and seafood.

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DESSERT & COFFEE

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE

PARK AVENUE COFFEE – Park Avenue is one of St. Louis’ “staple” coffee shops that you will want to check out, with several locations throughout the city including one just a couple blocks from the convention center.

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SNARF’S – If you eat here, you can’t leave without a scoop (or two) of their ice cream.

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WORTH THE DRIVE

BLUEPRINT COFFEE – One of St. Louis’ most popular coffee shops. Blueprint roasts their beans in their in-house roaster for the best tasting cup of coffee.

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DONUT DRIVE-IN – Featured on the Travel Channel’s, Man vs. Food, this donut, dessert and coffee joint will not disappoint.

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CYRANO’S CAFE – Some of St. Louis’ award-winning desserts.

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CROWN CANDY KITCHEN – If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Crown Candy Kitchen will not disappoint you with their malt milkshakes and world-renowned desserts.

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JENI’S ICE CREAM – A popular ice cream parlour serving some of St. Louis’ best ice cream.

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JILLY’S CAFE & CUPCAKE BAR – Jilly’s is a 2-time winner and 3-time contestant on The Food Network’s show, Cupcake Wars.

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COMET COFFEE – Enjoy a freshly-brewed cup of coffee along with one of their popular pastries.

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TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD – For you ice cream lover’s out there, this is your place for award-winning frozen custard.

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SUMP COFFEE – A local favorite for the coffee connoisseur.

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FOR FUN

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF SAINT LOUIS – One of the largest mosaic collections in the western hemisphere.

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CITY MUSEUM – The name is a bit deceiving as this family-fun style playground is one of St. Louis’ most unique attractions located in the heart of downtown St. Louis.

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GRANT’S FARM – Over 900 animals on this 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family.

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LOUIS ZOO – Featuring over 560 species of animals with free admission (some attractions require a small fee). 

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SIX FLAGS – Large amusement park with roller coasters, kids' rides & water slides, and live entertainment.

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THE GATEWAY ARCH – The tallest man-made monument in the United States, standing at 630 ft.

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THE OLD ST. LOUIS COURTHOUSE – One of St. Louis’ more notable historical landmarks.

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FOREST PARK – Over 1300 acres including four museums, the St. Louis Zoo, athletic fields and golf courses.

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LOUIS SCIENCE CENTER – Free fun for the entire family featuring science demos, a fossil dig site, planetarium, IMAX theater & much more. 

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DELMAR LOOP – Six blocks of eateries, shops, live music and more.

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Matthew Herriman

Matthew Herriman is the Political Director the the Tennessee Senate GOP Caucus.  Read More by this Author

Phillip Bethancourt

Phillip Bethancourt is Senior Pastor of Central Church in College Station, Texas. Before he was called to pastor Central, he served as the Executive Vice President of the ERLC team. He completed an MDiv and PhD in Systematic Theology at Southern after attending Texas A&M University. Phillip and his wife, Cami, have been married since 2005, … Read More

Article 12: The Future of AI

We affirm that AI will continue to be developed in ways that we cannot currently imagine or understand, including AI that will far surpass many human abilities. God alone has the power to create life, and no future advancements in AI will usurp Him as the Creator of life. The church has a unique role in proclaiming human dignity for all and calling for the humane use of AI in all aspects of society.

We deny that AI will make us more or less human, or that AI will ever obtain a coequal level of worth, dignity, or value to image-bearers. Future advancements in AI will not ultimately fulfill our longings for a perfect world. While we are not able to comprehend or know the future, we do not fear what is to come because we know that God is omniscient and that nothing we create will be able to thwart His redemptive plan for creation or to supplant humanity as His image-bearers.

Genesis 1; Isaiah 42:8; Romans 1:20-21; 5:2; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Timothy 1:7-9; Revelation 5:9-10

Article 11: Public Policy

We affirm that the fundamental purposes of government are to protect human beings from harm, punish those who do evil, uphold civil liberties, and to commend those who do good. The public has a role in shaping and crafting policies concerning the use of AI in society, and these decisions should not be left to those who develop these technologies or to governments to set norms.

We deny that AI should be used by governments, corporations, or any entity to infringe upon God-given human rights. AI, even in a highly advanced state, should never be delegated the governing authority that has been granted by an all-sovereign God to human beings alone. 

Romans 13:1-7; Acts 10:35; 1 Peter 2:13-14

Article 10: War

We affirm that the use of AI in warfare should be governed by love of neighbor and the principles of just war. The use of AI may mitigate the loss of human life, provide greater protection of non-combatants, and inform better policymaking. Any lethal action conducted or substantially enabled by AI must employ 5 human oversight or review. All defense-related AI applications, such as underlying data and decision-making processes, must be subject to continual review by legitimate authorities. When these systems are deployed, human agents bear full moral responsibility for any actions taken by the system.

We deny that human agency or moral culpability in war can be delegated to AI. No nation or group has the right to use AI to carry out genocide, terrorism, torture, or other war crimes.

Genesis 4:10; Isaiah 1:16-17; Psalm 37:28; Matthew 5:44; 22:37-39; Romans 13:4

Article 9: Security

We affirm that AI has legitimate applications in policing, intelligence, surveillance, investigation, and other uses supporting the government’s responsibility to respect human rights, to protect and preserve human life, and to pursue justice in a flourishing society.

We deny that AI should be employed for safety and security applications in ways that seek to dehumanize, depersonalize, or harm our fellow human beings. We condemn the use of AI to suppress free expression or other basic human rights granted by God to all human beings.

Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14

Article 8: Data & Privacy

We affirm that privacy and personal property are intertwined individual rights and choices that should not be violated by governments, corporations, nation-states, and other groups, even in the pursuit of the common good. While God knows all things, it is neither wise nor obligatory to have every detail of one’s life open to society.

We deny the manipulative and coercive uses of data and AI in ways that are inconsistent with the love of God and love of neighbor. Data collection practices should conform to ethical guidelines that uphold the dignity of all people. We further deny that consent, even informed consent, although requisite, is the only necessary ethical standard for the collection, manipulation, or exploitation of personal data—individually or in the aggregate. AI should not be employed in ways that distort truth through the use of generative applications. Data should not be mishandled, misused, or abused for sinful purposes to reinforce bias, strengthen the powerful, or demean the weak.

Exodus 20:15, Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 10:16 Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 4:12-13; 1 John 1:7 

Article 7: Work

We affirm that work is part of God’s plan for human beings participating in the cultivation and stewardship of creation. The divine pattern is one of labor and rest in healthy proportion to each other. Our view of work should not be confined to commercial activity; it must also include the many ways that human beings serve each other through their efforts. AI can be used in ways that aid our work or allow us to make fuller use of our gifts. The church has a Spirit-empowered responsibility to help care for those who lose jobs and to encourage individuals, communities, employers, and governments to find ways to invest in the development of human beings and continue making vocational contributions to our lives together.

We deny that human worth and dignity is reducible to an individual’s economic contributions to society alone. Humanity should not use AI and other technological innovations as a reason to move toward lives of pure leisure even if greater social wealth creates such possibilities.

Genesis 1:27; 2:5; 2:15; Isaiah 65:21-24; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11-16

Article 6: Sexuality

We affirm the goodness of God’s design for human sexuality which prescribes the sexual union to be an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman in the lifelong covenant of marriage.

We deny that the pursuit of sexual pleasure is a justification for the development or use of AI, and we condemn the objectification of humans that results from employing AI for sexual purposes. AI should not intrude upon or substitute for the biblical expression of sexuality between a husband and wife according to God’s design for human marriage.

Genesis 1:26-29; 2:18-25; Matthew 5:27-30; 1 Thess 4:3-4

Article 5: Bias

We affirm that, as a tool created by humans, AI will be inherently subject to bias and that these biases must be accounted for, minimized, or removed through continual human oversight and discretion. AI should be designed and used in such ways that treat all human beings as having equal worth and dignity. AI should be utilized as a tool to identify and eliminate bias inherent in human decision-making.

We deny that AI should be designed or used in ways that violate the fundamental principle of human dignity for all people. Neither should AI be used in ways that reinforce or further any ideology or agenda, seeking to subjugate human autonomy under the power of the state.

Micah 6:8; John 13:34; Galatians 3:28-29; 5:13-14; Philippians 2:3-4; Romans 12:10

Article 4: Medicine

We affirm that AI-related advances in medical technologies are expressions of God’s common grace through and for people created in His image and that these advances will increase our capacity to provide enhanced medical diagnostics and therapeutic interventions as we seek to care for all people. These advances should be guided by basic principles of medical ethics, including beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice, which are all consistent with the biblical principle of loving our neighbor.

We deny that death and disease—effects of the Fall—can ultimately be eradicated apart from Jesus Christ. Utilitarian applications regarding healthcare distribution should not override the dignity of human life. Fur- 3 thermore, we reject the materialist and consequentialist worldview that understands medical applications of AI as a means of improving, changing, or completing human beings.

Matthew 5:45; John 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:4

Article 3: Relationship of AI & Humanity

We affirm the use of AI to inform and aid human reasoning and moral decision-making because it is a tool that excels at processing data and making determinations, which often mimics or exceeds human ability. While AI excels in data-based computation, technology is incapable of possessing the capacity for moral agency or responsibility.

We deny that humans can or should cede our moral accountability or responsibilities to any form of AI that will ever be created. Only humanity will be judged by God on the basis of our actions and that of the tools we create. While technology can be created with a moral use in view, it is not a moral agent. Humans alone bear the responsibility for moral decision making.

Romans 2:6-8; Galatians 5:19-21; 2 Peter 1:5-8; 1 John 2:1

Article 2: AI as Technology

We affirm that the development of AI is a demonstration of the unique creative abilities of human beings. When AI is employed in accordance with God’s moral will, it is an example of man’s obedience to the divine command to steward creation and to honor Him. We believe in innovation for the glory of God, the sake of human flourishing, and the love of neighbor. While we acknowledge the reality of the Fall and its consequences on human nature and human innovation, technology can be used in society to uphold human dignity. As a part of our God-given creative nature, human beings should develop and harness technology in ways that lead to greater flourishing and the alleviation of human suffering.

We deny that the use of AI is morally neutral. It is not worthy of man’s hope, worship, or love. Since the Lord Jesus alone can atone for sin and reconcile humanity to its Creator, technology such as AI cannot fulfill humanity’s ultimate needs. We further deny the goodness and benefit of any application of AI that devalues or degrades the dignity and worth of another human being. 

Genesis 2:25; Exodus 20:3; 31:1-11; Proverbs 16:4; Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 3:23

Article 1: Image of God

We affirm that God created each human being in His image with intrinsic and equal worth, dignity, and moral agency, distinct from all creation, and that humanity’s creativity is intended to reflect God’s creative pattern.

We deny that any part of creation, including any form of technology, should ever be used to usurp or subvert the dominion and stewardship which has been entrusted solely to humanity by God; nor should technology be assigned a level of human identity, worth, dignity, or moral agency.

Genesis 1:26-28; 5:1-2; Isaiah 43:6-7; Jeremiah 1:5; John 13:34; Colossians 1:16; 3:10; Ephesians 4:24