Alliance on Homosexuals

                                                                                                            Vol. VII, No. 9, November 1994

[From The State newspaper, Greenville, SC, 6 March 1994.]

Leaders of a moderate Baptist group say it's time the church reaches out to homosexuals and openly addresses their concerns. "Our gay and lesbian Christian friends are hurting, and we want to acknowledge that and reach out to them," said Ann Quattlebaum, outgoing president of the Alliance of Baptists.

The 60,000-member Alliance split from the Southern Baptist Convention in 1987. It is preparing a report on how to include and minister to homosexual Christians.

About 400 Alliance members from around the country met in Greenville this weekend.

Homosexuality is the most difficult issue American churches have had to face since slavery, said executive director Stan Hastey. But the Alliance must address the issue since the purpose of the group is to provide a place for "forgotten Southern Baptists to come together," Hastey told the gathering at the First Baptist Church of Greenville. "One of the Alliance's principles is to seek out missions and ministries that are not being addressed," Quattlebaum said. An Alliance task force on human sexuality is [developing] training programs to help churches do their own studies on homosexuality. An official statement could be ready for consideration at next year's annual meeting in Virginia, Quattlebaum said.

The Alliance supports global mission projects, its own seminary, and Baptist studies programs at Emory and Duke universities.

Alliance members also discussed removing sexist language from hymns and services. For example, the traditional Baptist hymn "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" includes the line "Thou our Father, Christ our Brother." The Alliance version, changed with permission of the author, reads "Loving God, like Father-Mother." Members also discussed furthering the cause of women in the ministry.