Posted on 02/26/2018 8:32:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The District of Columbia Baptist Convention has been given 90 days to remove a church with lesbian co-pastors from fellowship or risk severing ties with the Southern Baptist Convention.
SBC's official news service, Baptist Press, reports that the SBC Executive Committee approved a motion on Feb. 20 giving the DCBC until May 20 to end its affiliation with churches "that have demonstrated a faith or practice affirming, approving or endorsing homosexual behavior."
The motion effectively gives DCBC the option to either sever its ties with the 155-year-old Calvary Baptist Church or help lead the church to "repentance."
In January 2017, Calvary Baptist hired lesbian couple Maria Swearingen and Sally Sarratt to be the new co-pastors. Although Calvary officially severed its ties with the SBC in 2012, DCBC gives its churches the choice of affiliation.
"If none of those scenarios materializes, the DCBC will lose immediately its authorization to receive and disburse Cooperative Program (CP) funds," Baptist Press states. DCBC also risks losing other SBC contributions.
Robert Cochran, executive director of the D.C. convention, told media that DCBC "has not affirmed, approved or endorsed homosexual behavior in any way at any time" and "respects the official statements" on homosexuality by both American and Southern Baptists."
The SBC amended its constitution in the early 1990s to exclude churches that affirm homosexuality, according to Baptist News Global.
"Calvary's actions do not reflect on the D.C. Baptist Convention or any other convention in any way," Cochran told Baptist Press in a statement.
Cochran also said he delivered a statement to the SBC Executive Committee Bylaws Workgroup and Administrative Committee explaining that the apostle John "never cut ties to any of these seven congregations [in Revelation 2 and 3], despite their shortcomings."
Baptist Press reports that just seven out of the 149 churches in the DCBC give to SBC causes.
The motion to give DCBC 90 days "was a decision that there's no doubt we needed to make," SBC Executive Committee chairman Stephen Rummage told Baptist Press.
Rummage added, however, that the decision was "made with great sadness."
According to Baptist News Global, the original motion called for the immediate severing of ties with DCBC.
However, the executive committee was asked instead to give the DCBC 90 days by Joseph Lyles, pastor of DCBC-cooperating Fort Foote Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Md.
Lyles said that the executive committee "was kind and considerate to try to bring about redemptive restoration."
"We're trying to extend the olive branch, and I think it was received," Lyles told Baptist Press. "So I was encouraged."
Payback can take many forms.
Needs to be dealt with severely and swiftly. I think 90 days is far too long.
Two weeks, tops.
Doesn’t anyone read the Bible anymore? How long until some churches just outright decide to worship Satan instead?
>>How long until some churches just outright decide to worship Satan instead?
<<
The ones that declared their support of homosexuality and other immoral behavior have done exactly that.
And then they will sue. I bet the US court system is beside itself in hopes of hearing this case. This could turn into a big challenge for religious liberty.
In the abstract, setting aside the issue for the moment, this is an interesting point:
“Cochran also said he delivered a statement to the SBC Executive Committee Bylaws Workgroup and Administrative Committee explaining that the apostle John “never cut ties to any of these seven congregations [in Revelation 2 and 3], despite their shortcomings.”
I think the response is, however, that John was an Apostle, and his “ties” to these churches were not at all analogous to the relationship between local, autonomous Baptist churches and their various levels of fellowship and cooperation.
Moreover, I’m not entirely sure that John in fact didn’t “cut ties” with them. He admonishes them, and then tells them and us how all of this is going to play out. We don’t really know what happens with regards to the “ties”.
Can anyone here with better knowledge of that correct me if that is wrong?
Now, with regards to Paul....I think this guy might be on stronger ground. The churches at Ephesus and Corinth were pretty messed up. But he continues to admonish them. But in the epistles to Timothy he sets forth the criteria of leadership, which, if applied in this situation gets rid of the lesbian leaders. But Paul didn’t confront churches who unrepentantly were led by people who were demonstrably not qualified under the criteria he set forth. I’m inclined to think if he had, he would have “cut ties” with them.
Again, I think this is interesting...if you set aside the issue for the moment and just think about what is being said about Scripture, and try to apply it meaningfully in the current world.
It is beyond my comprehension that any of the churches of which I have been a member since 1981 would allow an openly practicing homosexual to fill a place of leadership.
But they claim to worship God. If only they would admit they’re not worshipping God, but the god of this world, maybe fewer people would be fooled by them.
>>If only they would admit they’re not worshipping God, but the god of this world, maybe fewer people would be fooled by them.<<
Satan’s greatest triumphs: Corrupting almost ALL Judeochristian congregations with sexual deviancy and convincing so many people He doesn’t exist.
And it is just getting worse.
End times may be around the corner.
90 frickin’ days? Geez, none of my grace periods are that long. Cut to it - abolish them now.
This “church” is right downtown next to Chinatown. They rent out their Sunday school rooms to groups traveling to DC.
A few years ago, our Maryland based FIRST Robotics team that I coached had a competition at the Basketball stadium in DC. Most other teams had hotel rooms and bus rides every day. We booked the church for $15 per night per person and endured the two block walk to the stadium.
This was before the lesbians took over, but I could tell this was no longer a Christian church soon after we got there.
As a hotel though, we couldn’t beat it.
This is a true example of a reprobate mind.
What ties? God told him to send a message. He sent a message.
I agree with your “his “ties” to these churches were not at all analogous to the relationship between local, autonomous Baptist churches and their various levels of fellowship and cooperation”, and this would apply equally to Paul. He founded the churches, appointed leaders, and after that his role was primarily that of advisor/mentor.
Further, the churches Paul was dealing with might have had ignorance as an excuse, since much of the NT was yet to be written. Revelation was written later (I’d argue for the mid-90’s date, but in this instance the Nero dating would just apply this argument to John as well)
The folks in D.C. have the full scripture, and it isn’t vague on this subject. Confront them, if that fails bring 2-3 witnesses, if that fails treat them pagans and tax collectors (i.e. unbelievers). Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
It breaks my heart to see these once vibrtant churches turn into empty shells because they drink the PC Kool-Aid. Those lucky enough to be located downtown can generate a little revenue by renting their parking on the week days. The others, not so much.
There is only one correct position....and that's the Biblical one.
“Scripture is full of heroes of the faith who history, tradition, and religious authorities said could not be used, and yet these men and women were the very ones God chose to do God’s work in the world,” said Blythe.”
Absolutely true. Throughout the Bible, God used prostitutes, murderers, adulterers, & thieves. But you’d have to show me where these hero’s of old PERSISTED in the previously sinful life-styles.
No. Rather the model has been - repent, and sin no more. A broken spirit God will not despise.
Pride about one’s sin though? Whoa...
Exactly right. Cut the cancer off.
Or you end up some day accepting gays working at your headquarters while having gay drug parties, while you look the other way.
Good news about SBC.
Maybe the National Cathedral wouldn’t have needed to be shaken and damaged by a rare earthquake if they hadn’t converted to lesbian priestesses.
I think this is true of every church which goes homo. A thousand smaller, incremental heresies creep in almost unnoticed over many years before the open apostasy reveals itself.
You can tell such congregations by their theology and their associations.
A large formerly Southern Baptist Church in my city, Broadway Baptist (Bunyan-esk name) put out the "welcoming" mat (code for winking at sin) many years ago and turned a blind eye to the abomination of homosexuality in their midst. They faced correction by the Convention but feigned innocence and adherence to the Convention's teaching on homosexuality, although with a "live-and-let-live" twist. When they refused to outright enforce their claimed theology on sexual perversion, they couldn't do it. They were expelled from the Convention.
They were always very UNbaptist in their appearance and practices, with the ministers wearing distinctive garb like robes, and serving real wine at the Lord's Supper.
It's always a confirmation of a religious associations correct expulsion of a rogue congregation when the expelled congregation then goes all out on their perversion afterwards. Broadway Baptist was no exception. They dropped every pretense of walking a fine line and then began appointing openly homosexual deacons as their leaders.
Not sure where the real wine thing came from. The church I attend remembers the Lord weekly. One I used to attend had real wine and they were by far the most conservative Christians I’ve ever been associated with.
It was a common cup too.
I kind of miss that. Grape juice just don’t cut it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.