Broadway Baptist kicked out of Southern Baptist Convention
Convention delegates, known as messengers, voted Tuesday to end the 127-year relationship with the historic Fort Worth church during the annual convention being held in Louisville, Ky.
The vote affirmed that the relationship between Broadway and the convention cease, "and that the church’s messengers not be seated," according to Roger Oldham, vice president for convention relations with the executive committee.
The committee made the recommendation Monday.
Stephen Wilson, a member of the executive committee, told the Baptist Press that "the church was in effect saying that it was OK to have members who are open homosexuals."
The 2,000-member church could seek reinstatement if it "unambiguously demonstrates its friendly cooperation with the Convention under Article III," according to the committee.
Article III deals with membership and says, "Among churches not in cooperation with the convention are churches which act to affirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behavior."
The vote was a disappointment to leaders at Broadway, according to a statement from Kathy Madeja, chairwoman of the board of deacons.
"We do not believe Broadway has taken any action which would justify its being deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC," Madeja said. "It is unfortunate that the Southern Baptist Convention decided otherwise and severed its affiliation with Broadway Baptist Church."
Southern Baptist churches are autonomous and in charge of their own affairs, although the national convention does coordinate missions and relief organizations.
Because it was voted out, Broadway will not have a voice in convention issues or participate in its activities, Oldham said.
"Tomorrow when everybody wakes up, Broadway Baptist Church is still a Baptist church," Oldham said. "The only difference now is that it . . . can’t participate in matters that it has historically been a part of."
The decision does not affect Broadway’s affiliation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Its executive director, Randall Everett, said he was disappointed that Broadway and the Southern Baptist Convention could not reach an agreement.
"Our prayers are with the church and its new pastor as they seek God’s leadership for the future," Everett said in a statement.
The Rev. Brent Beasley, who was named senior pastor at Broadway this month, could not be reached for comment. He begins at Broadway in July.
Beasley replaces the Rev. Brett Younger, whose leadership was called into question last year during a debate about whether photographs of same-sex couples should appear in the church directory. The photographs were eventually rejected in favor of group pictures of all church members.
Younger resigned in April 2008 to become an associate professor at a divinity school in Atlanta.
After the debate over the photographs, the Rev. Bob Sanderson of Wendell, N.C., criticized Broadway’s stance on homosexuality at last year’s convention and urged that the church be declared "not in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention."
The issue was taken up by the executive committee, which conducted meetings in September and February.
The Rev. Jorene Taylor Swift, a Broadway minister, wrote a letter to the committee stating: "We are not a church where homosexuality is a defining issue. While we extend hospitality to everyone — including homosexuals — we do not endorse, approve or affirm homosexual behavior."
Broadway leaders also appeared before the committee in February, and were asked whether any homosexuals served on church committees.
"The interim pastor [the Rev. Charles Johnson] was gracious enough to say there were two," said the Rev. Chris S. Osborne, pastor of Central Baptist Church in College Station and a committee member.
The committee indicated that it had problems with that and encouraged Broadway to strengthen its stance against homosexuality.
The church responded to further questions from the committee about homosexuality, Broadway attorney Lynn Robbins said.
"We answered their questions by telling them we do not and never have ever endorsed, approved or affirmed homosexual behavior," Robbins said. "At the same time, our doors are open to all people, including homosexuals, without affirming their behavior."
David Lowrie, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Canyon and president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, told the Baptist Press that Broadway "needed to express those convictions in a practical way. They, for whatever reason, weren’t able to do that."
Lowrie said, for example, that Broadway could have started a ministry to help people with "unhealthy lifestyles."
This report includes material from the Baptist Press and Star-Telegram archives.
This week something big happened in my hometown, in the center of the bible belt, a historic church took a stand and took some major hits, but they remain standing, remain standing by those who they profess to love, for those they feel they have been called to love and I am proud of them. Don't really know how to say that without sounding condescending, for who am I, but as I have been dusting off my relationship with God I've been feeling the pull towards public gathering for worship, aka church again.
It is with just such a church I would wish to commune.
What are we so afraid of?
When did loving someone of the same sex become the unpardonable sin?
It isn't contagious folks, honestly it isn't.
Why is it okay for a man who beats his wife and children to hold high offices in our churches? Why are the obese allowed to serve? Why are women who have slept with more than one man and men who have slept with more than one woman allowed to hold positions of authority in our churches, but gays are not? Gays, and if you are baptist, such as I am, divorced.
I have heard it said of my denomination we are the only church who shoots their survivors, and boy oh boy is that the truth.
And what about grace?
For by grace are we saved through faith it is a gift from God, not of works lest any man boast.
Now, where in there does it say, grace and straight? Grace and only married once? Grace and perfect, and isn't that the point of grace? Grace does for me me what I can not do for myself? Grace covers me and makes me perfect. I am made perfect through his grace. His grace covers my sins, doesn't erase them, doesn't make me perfect, just covers them.
"I've got this one, child. Don't worry, I'll cover you."
Come on folks. Stop being hypocritical, unless you have learned how to lead the perfect life, unless you are perfect without flaw, until you manage to get it right one-hundred percent of the time, leave everyone else alone, let God decide who to cover with his grace.
He tells us, if you love me love my sheep.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
No where in there does it say, unless he happens to love Steve. I read no such footnotes. Jesus just said, "Go love them." And that is just what Broadway Baptist Church is doing. They are simply opening their arms and loving everyone who walks through their doors.
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar.
What is hate?
Well, I may be too simple. I may be wrong, but I think hate is saying I will no longer have anything to do with you. I reject you to the point of refusing to fellowship with you. Hate is walking into a church and shooting a Doctor to death. Hate is beating a man to death with a bat. Hate is throwing pig's blood on a woman and calling her a murder. Hate is setting off bombs in a doctor's clinic. And if I am wrong and these are not acts of hate, they are most certainly hateful acts.
Hate is taking away a church's membership from an organization they have been an active member of for 127 years and refusing to allow them a voice.
My heart overflows with pride for Broadway Baptist Church and it is on their pews I will be seated on Sunday.
I simply want a church who knows how to love whatever the cost. Thank you for showing me there is one.
The winds of change are blowing and their scent is sweetness to my soul.
my church has also been said of that.
ReplyDelete"the only church that shoots its wounded." it is a trait of the church in general. it is a symptom of leaving god and truth for religious behaviour. people are hiding behind their brothers and sisters sin to keep from exposing their own.
I sure hope you will come visit next Sunday.
ReplyDeleterest assure, I will be there. Thank you for the invite. Not sure how you found your way here, but I am glad you did.
ReplyDeleteI have read enough about your church this past week to realize this stand is not felt by all and it has caused your church much internal stress, but it is a relief to me to find a church who just wants to love people and feel it is God's business to judge them.
Pamela