From: CEvans1950@aol.com
Hello,
Here are some just plain assholes who don't want their Christian love to get
in the way of their petty bigotry. As usual, Jesus gets the heave ho from the
bigots when his teaching is inconvenient.
Sincerely,
Ga. Baptists Target Homosexuality
By LORI JOHNSTON
.c The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Saying they didn't want same-sex marriages performed in
their churches, Southern Baptists in Georgia voted Tuesday to exclude
congregations that `endorse' homosexuality.
The Rev. J. Gerald Harris, new president of the denomination's state
convention, said Southern Baptists welcome gay individuals but can't allow
churches to advocate their behavior.
"The unanimous verdict of scripture is that practicing homosexuality is a
sin," said Harris, from Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta. "Love ... must
not compromise the church's allegiance to scripture."
Delegates voted to warn churches they should not knowingly take any action to
affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior if they want to remain in the
convention, the denomination's second largest in the nation behind Texas.
The Rev. J. Robert White, the Georgia convention's executive director, will
oversee investigation of churches. If there is a complaint, White will meet
with the pastor and the convention will ask the church to come into compliance
or leave the denomination.
Several of more than 2,400 church representatives in Columbus this week for
the meeting spoke against the measure.
"To speak on this very issue is perilous," said Bill Self of John's Creek
Baptist Church in Alpharetta. "I want to ask one simple question. This year,
the homosexuals. Who's next, churches that receive African-Americans? Churches
that allow women in the ministry?"
Also Tuesday, the group rejected a provision to exclude churches that engage
in "divisive" and "disruptive" charismatic worship, such as speaking in
tongues.
Only a few states -- Florida, North Carolina and Texas -- have adopted
policies on gays. And only one state, Florida, has a policy regarding
charismatics.
A very small number of Baptist churches in Georgia either endorse
homosexuality or charismatic worship, White said. No churches are being
investigated. White said the convention wants to have rules just in case.
AP-NY-11-17-98 1748EST
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news
report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed
without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active
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Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 01:31:40 EST
Subject: Baptist "Love"
Caroline
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