I'm bothered on 2 levels by this

[keltic63]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/01/012006txChurch.htm

a Texas church has been "disaffiliated" with the Southern Baptists of Texas convention because it began a ministry to gay and lesbian people. So, at first glance it looks like this church is ostracized because it is reaching out to the gay community.

Look further, it appears that the churches intent was to befriend, then change the gay people it attracted to its church. this kind of spiritual violence is despicable.

[Zerbie]

It appears that even lip service to compassion (which it turns out not even to be anyway) is too much for the denomination. What a mess!

[SolInvictus]

So sorry...thats horrible news, but at least the truth was revealed.
Its sad when a church(s) is the cause of deception & lies.

[pnggrad79]

Hey all,
I am a member of House of Glory praise team here in Houston and one of our members went to this church about a month ago and sang at its first meeting of the "gay" group that the pastor allowed to meet one Thursday evening. He gave his testimony to the pastor and congregation that night and the pastor was moved to continue letting them meet at the church. Although the pastor still considers homosexuality a "sin", at least he is willing to let us worship even if it is on the back porch, so to speak. (We are not good enough to be allowed there on Sunday morning with everyone else, so we have to worship on Thursday, or the "back porch")
My team member said this was a fledgling church and he is from Baytown and went to support it. There is another fledgling church meeting in Galveston with about 11 members so far. It is a tragedy that we have to meet this way, but moreover it is a tragedy beyond comprehension that people like Cynthia Clawson and Jim Rigby (Presbyterian pastor in Austin going through the mill over ordaining a gay deacon) are coming under fire for coming to our defense and standing up for what is right. What strikes me is how divisive this is and how much it grieves the heart of God when we do crap like this to one another. WE are all children of God, we are all in need of a SAVIOR, and we are EQUAL at the foot of the cross. How, when and where did the Church become so legalistic and judgmental? Or better yet-was it ever the picture of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ? In truth, the church is no better than the temple at which Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers. The Southern Baptist Convention are modern day pharisees. That divisive spirit is what is keeping the church from being effective in reaching the world for Christ.