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Georgia
Baptists Expel Two
Inclusive Churches
Macon, GA - The Georgia Baptist Convention voted November
16, to expel Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur and Virginia Highlands Baptist
Church in Atlanta. This marked the first time in the 177-year history of the
state Southern Baptists convention that it has taken such an action. The GBC
changed its constitution last year to exclude congregations that "affirm,
approve or endorse homosexual behavior."
"The Georgia Baptist Convention encourages, indeed urges, our churches to
minister to everyone including homosexuals," the Rev. Robert White, the
GBC’s executive director, said in explaining a recommendation by the GBC’s
executive committee to cut ties to Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland.
"The problem is what is the church’s disposition toward the sin of
homosexuality? Does your church minister to homosexuals ... or does your church
go beyond that to honor the sin of homosexuality?" White said. "We
believe that honoring homosexuality in this way is an error,"
Both Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland are congregations that embrace their
diversity and openness, which their pastors say is a response to the urban
communities in which they are located. At Oakhurst, gay men and lesbians serve
as Sunday school teachers, choir members, deacons and ministers.
Virginia-Highland has gay and lesbian members and has held a same-sex blessing
ceremony.
"This community of faith owes an apology to no one for its ministries and
for its witness as a church on mission," the Rev. Timothy Shirley, pastor
of Virginia-Highland, told the convention. "The ministry that lesbian and
gay Christians offer so joyfully to our church is a blessing and a crucial part
of the life of this congregation," said the Rev. Lanny Peters, pastor of
Oakhurst.
The votes for expulsion came after messengers (delegates) refused a request by
Peters for a period of reconciliation and conversation among the state’s
Baptist churches about the issue of homosexuality. "Our church has been in
dialogue for 20 years about homosexuality," he said. "We do not
believe such an important matter should be dealt with in 10 minutes at this
convention."
Urging the convention to act immediately and "draw a line in the sand,
written in blood," the Rev. James Merritt, pastor of First Baptist Church
in Snellville, said, "The issue before us is not homosexuality. . . .The
issue before us is fidelity to the truth of the word of God."
But the Rev. Chris Graham, pastor of the Church of the Savior in Roswell,
cautioned, "There are people here today who have gay children, gay
grandchildren and who work with people who are gay. They will go home with the
question where, in this great body of Christ that we uphold, will those
children, those grandchildren, those friends find a home? Oakhurst and
Virginia-Highland need the Georgia Baptist Convention," Graham said,
"but you are mistaken today if you don’t think this convention needs
Virginia-Highland Baptist Church in Atlanta and Oakhurst Baptist Church in
Decatur."
The real was always about Baptist principles, although the Georgia Baptist
Convention thought that it was about sin," according to Jack Smith,
a member of Oakhurst. "Historically, Baptists for centuries have had
defining principles - two of which were violated by expelling Oakhurst and
Virginia-Highland - autonomy of the local congregation and the right and
responsibility of the members of the congregation to study and interpret the
Scriptures." Autonomy of the local congregation, means that local churches
set their own course in ministry and congregational life. At Oakhurst every
member is a minister - no one is a second-class member, according to Smith. On
the interpreting of the Scriptures, he says Oakhurst has struggled mightily with
the issue of homosexuality for twenty years. Consensus has come down that the
Bible says that there is room at God’s table for all.
"This violation of Baptist principles by the Georgia Baptist Convention
will have consequence beyond expelling Oakhurst and Virginia-Highland, and
naming homosexuality as sin," says Smith "Who will be the next
congregation to be expelled and because of what sin?"
Portions
from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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