Fort Worth's Baptist Church Expeled from SBC

I have written in the past about Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, which after much internal controversy allowed gay members of the church to be pictured in the church's directory although not as family units. This compromise action was apparently perceived to be too gay tolerant by the owe rs that be at the Southern Baptist Convention - who seem to be Hell bent towards making the Church irrelevant to anyone with more than a 3rd grade education and intellectual level - and the result is that Broadway Baptist has been thrown out of the SBC after 125 years as an affiliate of the SBC. One cannot help but be struck by the obsession with gays and gays sex amongst the SBC leadership. It is sad that a church that tries to actually preach and conform its behavior to the Gospel message finds itself - be it SBC or Catholic - driven from the larger denomination that seems set only on judging others and displaying bigotry. Here are some highlights from the Associated Baptist Press:

*

It took messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 23 only 30 seconds to sever a 125-year relationship with a prominent Texas congregation because of the church’s perceived toleration of gay members. Voting in the opening session of their annual meeting in Louisville, the messengers chose overwhelmingly to dismiss Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth. They did so on a recommendation the convention’s Executive Committee approved, without dissent, the day before.The recommendation did not specifically mention homosexuality. But that issue has been the backdrop of controversy at the church since late 2007, when a dispute arose regarding whether to include pictures of same-sex couples alongside other families in the church’s membership directory.

*

"We are disappointed with the decision of the Southern Baptist Convention," said Kathy Madeja, the church's deacon chair, "We are disappointed with the decision of the Southern Baptist Convention," said Kathy Madeja, the church's deacon chair, in a statement released shortly after the vote June 23. "Our mission at Broadway is and will continue to be consistent with the SBC’s stated enterprise of reaching the world for Christ. Like other SBC churches, membership at Broadway is by acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord and the experience of believer’s baptism by immersion.

*
"We do not believe Broadway has taken any action which would justify its being deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. It is unfortunate that the Southern Baptist Convention decided otherwise and has severed its affiliation with Broadway Baptist Church."

*

The SBC changed its constitution in 1993 to exclude churches that are welcoming and affirming of gays. Previously the amendment was interpreted to apply only to churches that take some formal action, like ordaining or licensing a gay minister or conducting a ceremony to bless a same-sex union, but in 2006 an SBC-affiliated state convention with a similar policy said a church could be expelled for simply being perceived as affirming homosexual behavior.