BSC moves to exclude gay-friendly churches
By Steve DeVane
BR Managing Editor
GREENSBORO - North Carolina Baptist churches will have to deny membership to practicing gay people or risk losing membership in the Baptist State Convention (BSC).
Messengers to the BSC annual meeting voted Tuesday to put into the BSC's governing documents language that would exclude from BSC membership churches thought to affirm homosexual behavior.
The vote, which BSC leaders determined passed by more than the required two thirds on a show of ballots, put into the BSC's Articles of Incorporation the "Sanderson motion" that was approved by messenger to last year's meeting.
The revision adds a section that says, "Among churches not in friendly cooperation with the Convention are churches which knowingly act to affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or bless homosexual behavior. The Board of Directors shall apply this provision. A church has the right to appeal any adverse action taken by the Board of Directors."
Supporters of the amendment said during discussion on the floor of the meeting that the BSC needs to take a stand against homosexuality. Opponents said the BSC already had a policy in place that has removed churches that affirm homosexuality.
Jeff Dawkins, pastor of Jewel Baptist Church in High Point, said he has dealt with homosexuality in a "close and personal way." He said when a person repented of the homosexual lifestyle, the church welcomed him. But when the person returned to that lifestyle, the church removed him from membership.
"We can be against the sin and love the sinner," he said.
Nathan Parrish, pastor of Peace Haven Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, said it is ironic that the BSC was moving to exclude some churches while the theme of the meeting is "Cast a wider net." Parrish, who is a member of the BSC Board of Directors, asked whether messengers wanted to give the Board of Directors more oversight and power.
"Having the right to exclude doesn't make the practice of excluding the right thing to do," he said.
Mark Harris, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte, was chair of a committee that recommended the change. He said the motion reflected a "bold statement" that the BSC needed to make.
Harris said nothing would please him more than if the motion was unnecessary. But, he said, there is a national agenda promoting homosexuality.
"We truly believe this convention must stand with courage," he said.
Don Gordon, pastor of Yates Baptist Church in Durham, said he wanted to offer another voice on the issue.
"You can still believe homosexuality is sinful behavior and oppose this amendment," he said.
The change turns the BSC into a "watchdog" over a single issue, Gordon said. He asked the convention to let the whole world know that God loves every person.
Dan Heimbach, an ethics professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of Richland Creek Baptist Church in Wake Forest, spoke in favor of the amendment.
Heimbach, who also served on the committee that recommended the change, said that although there are many sins, homosexuality was the one challenging the church.
Ed Beddingfield, pastor of First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, said the motion sends a message that some people aren't welcome in N.C. Baptist churches. The motion also makes some churches guilty by association, he said.
Nicolas Muteti, pastor of Forestville Baptist Church in Wake Forest, said the convention needs to represent God.
"We must stand for God's word," he said. "We cannot compromise."
BSC president Stan Welch said in a press conference that passage of the amendment gives the BSC a clearer word on the issue. He said he thinks the previous BSC Board of Directors' policy "did not have teeth."
Welch said the BSC will not people assign to police the issue. If word comes to the BSC about possible violations, BSC officials will follow-up on the issue.
BSC Executive Director-treasurer Milton Hollifield said the intent is not to find people or characterize people.
"It's not that we're looking for those situations," he said. "We want to be as redemptive as possible."
A church with an openly homosexual member must choose whether it wants to keep that person as a church member or whether it wants to continue to be a member of the BSC, Hollifield said.
"But that's not something we're going seek out," he said.
