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| Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD. | |||
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November 05, 2003
The nation's largest Christian denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), announced today that a formal "declaration on marriage" will be issued later this month at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.
According to the SBC, equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian Americans is a biggest threat our nation faces. With an annual budget of over $16 million, SBC officials regrettably find money contributed to their coffers from God-fearing Christians across America is better spent propagating hateful and divisive rhetoric.
The group's newly elected leader, Richard Land, wants "to make sure there is no confusion about what the Bible says on this issue." The idea of the SBC seeking to clarify God's word comes as no surprise. It wasn't until 1995 the SBC officially apologized for 150 years of making sure there was no confusion about God's Biblical support for slavery. It's likely God's true feelings on equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian Americans won't catch up with leaders of the SBC in this lifetime unless the faithful begin taking a stand against this assault by SBC leadership.
It is shameful the SBC continues to illustrate the moral decline of religious extremists as they turn their backs on their faith and a nation founded on principles of fairness. Is this the "inclusive and compassionate" America’s religious conservatives are selling to the American people?
A legacy of hatred within the Southern Baptist Convention:
- SBC formed in 1845 by splitting away from the Baptist denomination to continue justifying slavery as God's special plan for the nation's blacks.
- SBC opposed civil rights for blacks in the 1950s
- in 1995, SBC officially apologized for using misguided interpretations of God's word to justify bigotry toward blacks
- in 1996, SBC launched The Strategic Focus Initiative to covert hell-bound Jews
- in 1997, SBC launched a failed boycott of Disney protesting Disney's granting equal benefits to gay and lesbian employees
- in 2000, the SBC issued resolutions banning women from being pastors and encouraging women be submissive to their husbands. The move prompted SBC member and former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn to formally sever their ties with the SBC.
- in June 2003, the SBC announced plans to publicly oppose equal marriage rights and played a taped message of support from President George Bush stating, "You and I share many common values. We believe in fostering a culture of life and that marriage and family are sacred institutions."
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