BFPNA on Homosexuality

                                                                                                                          Vol. VI, No. 6, August 1993

The Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (BPFNA) held its annual meeting 11-13 February in St. Louis. There were 28 in attendance who, according to their report published in the spring 1993 edition of their journal, Baptist Peacemaker, spent seven hours discussing and framing an official BFPNA statement on homosexuality. The major portions of that statement are quoted below:

"With regard to the various issues confronting lesbian and gay people, the BPFNA leadership expresses consensus on the following:

" 1. The biblical mandate for justice requires an affirmation of the dignity of lesbian and gay people. Therefore, we are called to witness before the state, the Church, private institutions and individuals on behalf of the civil rights and equality of opportunity for lesbian and gay people, and to oppose the humiliation and violence done to them.

"2. The biblical mandates for justice, evangelism and reconciliation call our churches to welcome lesbian and gay people as participants in the community of faith.

"With regard to the following we have not reached consensus. We commit ourselves to an ongoing process of vigorous dialogue regarding:

"1. The charge that the sexual orientation and sexual expression of gay and lesbian people is sinful.

"2. The inclusion of gay and lesbian people in positions of leadership in our churches."

[Editorial Comment: Note that both lead paragraphs state the ground of authority of the BPFNA leaders, "consensus." Not "Thus saith the Lord." Your editor submits that no one can read the Bible and not understand that (1) it records God's condemnation of homosexual practice as sinful, dreadfully sinful, and (2) those persisting in sin are not to be placed in leadership positions within the church. Those who deny such clear biblical mandates deny the authority of God's written Word and thus of God Himself. Instead they raise themselves and what THEY think ("consensus") to the position of final authority, thus fulfilling the serpent's beguiling words, "You will be as gods, knowing good and evil."]