GA Baptists dismiss 2 churches for affirming homosexuality

 by John D. Pierce                                                                                                            Vol. XIII, No. 1, January 2000

[Editorial Introduction: The dismissal of these two churches in Georgia, a similar event in Texas, and the withdrawal of Wake Forest BC, Wake Forest, NC, from the NC Baptist convention, are clear indicators that homosexuality in the church is an issue which will continue to confront Southern Baptists. Homosexuals are aggressively working through universities, high schools, even grade schools, and public libraries to get their perversion accepted as normal. Please read the article carefully and reflect upon the speakers' comments. Brackets indicate my comments. TCP]

Messengers to the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting Nov. 16 overwhelmingly voted to "withdraw fellowship" from two Atlanta-area congregations over their policies and practices concerning homosexuality. The action that drew wide media coverage centered on Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur and Virginia-Highland Baptist Church in one of Atlanta's most popular in-town communities. Both church settings include large numbers of gay ["Gay" is a misnomer. It is propaganda intended to make homosexuality attractive. Because language is powerful, henceforth, I will substitute "sad" wherever "gay" appears in the original.] and lesbian persons.

It marked the first time the GBC has dismissed a church in its 177-year history. In recent years the state convention in Texas has cut ties with one member congregation, and in 1993 the Southern Baptist Convention changed its constitution to prohibit any church which affirms homosexual practice from participation in the SBC. The convention's stance was prompted by two North Carolina churches, one which licensed a homosexual divinity student to the ministry, the other which performed a marriage-like "union" of two homosexual men.

The motion to dismiss Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland came from the convention's executive committee and was preceded by GBC Executive Director J. Robert White's explanation of how the churches were determined to be out of "harmony and cooperation" with the convention. Last year messengers approved a constitutional change stating that "a cooperating church does not include (one) which knowingly takes, or has taken, any action to affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior."

"The greatest act of love," White said, "is to tell the truth about sin," while noting that homosexuality "is not the unpardonable sin." However, he said, "if the church declares that sin is not sin, is not the shedding of Christ's blood on Calvary in vain?" White noted that both churches allow for homosexual and lesbian members to hold positions of leadership and that a commitment service for two homosexuals at Virginia-Highland was "out of keeping with who we are as Georgia Baptists." [The issue is not who we are; it is what the Bible says. Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "Go, and sin no more." One cannot be a practicing homosexual and a Christian, and a church cannot accept and approve practicing homosexuals and be a Christian church.]

Both pastors, Lanny Peters of Oakhurst and Timothy Shirley of Virginia-Highland, addressed the messengers. "Our church has been in dialogue for 20 years about homosexuality," Peters said, adding that the issue "shouldn't be dealt with in 10 minutes at this convention." [(1) Peters expressed the post-modernist attitude that there are no absolute standards of right and wrong, that one should make a sincere attempt to consider all the factors and come to a reasonable conclusion under the circumstances. But in the Bible God does set forth certain absolutes, and that homosexuality is an "abomination" to Him is one of them. (2) Peters implies that the entire matter is being settled with only a few minutes consideration. He did not mention that a year previously the convention had amended its constitution on this very issue and because of these very two churches. Nor did he mention the repeated discussions between the state convention and the two churches.]

Peters moved that "the motion be referred back for a time of dialogue" between convention leaders and his congregation, which he described as lay-led and uninvolved in previous conversations. His motion failed.

Shirley told messengers his congregation did not "retreat to the 'safe' suburbs" when faced with "sweeping changes" but "chose to remain and minister with the new mix of residents," including "a large percentage of folk [who] were gay and lesbian." [Note that he said "minister with" rather than "minister to".] He added that the congregation "has opened its doors to 'whosoever will' and invites persons to come 'just as they are." [Yes, we come just as we are, but Romans 12:2 says, " And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Not my own will. Not society's will. Not the current culture's will. But the perfect will of God.]

Prior to the motions, discussions and votes, White strongly encouraged the media to be accurate in representing the convention's position on homosexuality. A printed release stated that the convention "encourages all Georgia Baptist churches to minister to all people, no matter what their backgrounds are, including homosexuals" and "that Christ's grace extends to all." The release also stated that the vote to "withdraw fellowship" from these two churches was tied directly to the constitutional amendment regarding churches that "affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior."

Both churches had earlier submitted written responses to the executive committee concerning their positions on homosexuals in leadership roles and other related matters. Also, the pastors had conversations about these issues with White and GBC President Gerald Harris, pastor of Eastside Church in Marietta.

"I cannot tell you how much this whole issue grieves me," said Harris when it came time to consider the motion. Twice he admonished messengers not to applaud, but to pray when arguments were made on behalf of the motion.

"The issue before us is not homosexuality ... (or) soul freedom ... (or) church autonomy ... (but) fidelity to the truth of the Word of God," said James Merritt, pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church, Snellville, speaking against Peters' request that the motion be referred to allow for further dialogue.

Paul Weldon, pastor of Society Hill Baptist Church in Fort Valley, spoke in favor of the motion to dismiss Oakhurst, insisting that on the issue of homosexuality "the Bible is very clear."

After limited discussions from the floor following each of the motions, messengers ousted Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland from convention fellowship in separate secret ballots by votes of 2,086-262 and 2,111-228, respectively. According to their pastors Oakhurst has an active congregation of about 300 and Virginia-Highland has about 60 active members.

Shirley said Virginia-Highland had not contributed to the Georgia Baptist Convention in about seven years and that the vote would have no direct impact on their ministry.

In a separate but related matter, the convention approved a resolution opposing acts of violence toward homosexual persons. [BP]