Gay Issue Spurs Shift by Church

                                                                                                                     Vol. VII, No. 2, February 1994

[Condensed from the Toledo Blade of 13 November 1993.]

One of the newest churches to join the Southern Baptist Convention in Ohio is a congregation whose members are concerned about the American Baptist Convention's position on homosexuality.

First Baptist Church of Grove City is remaining aligned with the American Baptist Convention, but recently [also] joined the Southern Baptists because the congregation ... felt more akin to the SBC theologically.

The Rev. Jerry Neal, First Baptist pastor, said the 500-member church, first became concerned about its denominational affiliation about a year ago when the American Baptist Convention's General Board refused to endorse a resolution by the West Virginia conference saying homosexuality was incompatible with Christian teaching.

In response to the threat of a national referendum, the General Board later upheld the resolution, Mr. Neal said. But the American Baptist Convention's executive minister then sent a letter to pastors saying the resolution was not based on a biblical mandate.

Mr. Neal, however, said his concerns as pastor of the congregation were less with sexual issues than with what he called "a liberal approach to every area of theology" in the American Baptist Convention

After he attended a Southern Baptist Convention meeting several years ago, he talked with his congregation about what he heard there, and they decided to pursue affiliation with the SBC.

[Editorial Comment: Note that it is the American Baptist Convention with which the Baptist General Association of Virginia voted last November to explore establishing a relationship.]