| christian grantham | |||
| 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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December 24, 2004
In 1845, the issue of slavery so divided American Baptists that the denomination split, with those who used the Bible to justify slavery forming the nation's largest protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, the SBC continued to defy desegregation and opposed granting blacks equal rights through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The SBC didn't apologize for the racism from which they were created until 1995, well over 150 years after they rejected the tenants of their faith and divided the Baptist denomination.
Last summer, 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."
In June 2004, the SBC continued to isolate itself and embrace divisiveness by voting to leave the Baptist World Alliance, citing 50 American Baptist congregations belong to the "pro-gay" Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.
Today, hatred continues to threaten to divide the Southern Baptists, leading some to find the denomination now fighting to "preserve unity." When will people of faith stand up and reject divisive forces of hatred and embrace unifying messages of love and fairness?
The 25 regional executives of the 1.5 million-member American Baptist Churches in the USA jointly announced that the denomination's ongoing controversy over homosexuality "threatens to break us apart."A pastoral statement to "preserve unity," released this month after a meeting of denomination leaders, said they had personally agreed to "voluntarily refrain from" naming sexually active gays and lesbians to national and regional positions." The church leaders also said they would not participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies, but pledged to shun "homophobic behavior."
"We further pledge to continue listening to those who hold differing viewpoints," they said. The executives will give a follow-up report to the Baptists' General Board in June, just before the denomination's biennial meeting.
[Baptists pledge to shun 'homophobic behavior' - AP - 12-24-04]
Corrected in comments: DCRob points out that the American Baptist Churches in the USA do not include the Southern Baptists.
filed under: Moral Majority
