Southern baptist view on gays
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: American Baptist Churches USA
BACKGROUND
The American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) is the fifth-largest Christian denomination in the Together States, with approximately 1.3 million members and 5,000 congregations worldwide. Although ABCUSA shares many traditions, beliefs and standards with other Baptists, ABCUSA is a distinct entity from its relatives, the American Baptist Association (ABA), the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the Alliance of Baptists, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Following more moderate ideals than the ABA and SBC, ABCUSA is considered one of the most inclusive and revolutionary Protestant bodies. At its core, ABCUSA believes in and advocates for autonomy in religious group and function, religious freedom through phrase and cultural/ethnic inclusion within the church. Of its more traditional values, the denomination believes that the Bible is the divinely influential guide for serving God, that believers in Christ demand to participate in the Lord’s Supper and full-immersion or believer’s baptism and that all members have the responsibility to inform others of Christ through evangelism a
The Southern Baptist Convention did not change its stance on homosexuality or homosexuals during its annual meeting in Nashville, SBC ethicist Richard Land said.
Some national media sources reported that Southern Baptists modified their stance on homosexuality during their June 21-22 sessions. "Baptists change approach on gays" was the headline in a front page article in the Nashville Tennessean. The article opened by suggesting the SBC "appears to have taken a step back from its hard-line stance on homosexuality."
The media speculation may have stemmed from such factors as:
• Messengers in Nashville dropping the SBC's boycott of The Disney Company, eight years after calling for the economic behavior in describing the entertainment conglomerate as "increasingly promoting immoral ideologies such as homosexuality, infidelity, and adultery."
• A resolution calling on parents and churches to "investigate diligently the curricula, textbooks, and programs in our community schools," but stopping short of specifically calling on churches to inspect schools for pro-homosexual curricula or clubs or urging Christians to
WHEREAS, Marriage is a covenant relationship and an institution established by God rather than simply a human social construct (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; Ephesians 5:22–33); and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have consistently affirmed our support of the biblical definition of marriage as the exclusive union of one bloke and one woman; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures indicate that all sexual action outside of marriage is sinful; and
WHEREAS, All people, regardless of race or sexual orientation, are created in the image of God and thus are due respect and love (Genesis 1:26–27); and
WHEREAS, The Department of Justice has argued (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional claiming that DOMA unfairly discriminates against homosexuals; and
WHEREAS, For the first time in history the President of the United States has publicly voiced his personal help of “same-sex marriage”; and
WHEREAS, While homosexuality does not display the distinguishing features of classes entitled to special protections, like the classes of race and gender, we thank the unique struggles experienced by homosexuals in some parts of society; and
WHEREAS, It is
WHEREAS, All across our nation there is a concerted effort by “Gay Activists” and liberal humanistic politicians to pass ordinances which, under the deceptive guise of human rights, contain the effect of giving public approval to the homosexual lifestyle, making it equally acceptable to the biblical heterosexual family existence style, and
WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have the opportunity to become involved in their own communities in this struggle.
Be it RESOLVED, That our Convention deplore the proliferation of all lesbian practices, unnatural relations of any character, and sexual perversion whenever found in our society and reaffirm the traditional position of Southern Baptists that all such practices are sin and are condemned by the Word of God.
Be it further RESOLVED, That while the Word of God condemns such practices, relations, and perversion, our Convention affirms that the Bible also offers forgiveness for those who will seek and receive it.