Baptist Church Affirms Gays & Lesbians...

[keltic63]

is removed from Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. story here

Myers Park To Challenge Messenger Seating

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor



The Executive Committee ruled Monday morning that Myers Park Baptist Church is not "in friendly cooperation with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina."

Myers Park will challenge that finding at the BSC annual meeting Tuesday morning in Greensboro.
Myers Park is affiliated with several groups that "welcome and affirm" homosexuals as members and in leadership.
They wrote a letter to the Baptist State Convention in January declaring both that fact and their intent to stay affiliated with the Baptist State Convention.

Myers Park
Pastor
Steve Shoemaker

here's another blogger's article about it

and one more (where I found out about it)

Who can stand in the presence of God? Who will oppose and hinder God?

[Progo35]

That's too bad that the Convention and this church couldn't continue learning from each other. I'm curious to learn more about why the convention did what it did and what actions it took toward mediation prior to this. That's nice to see the Baptist church being open to different scriptural interpretations, which I don't feel condones or condemns homosexuality: they are, as their pastor said, inviting LGBT people to worship and follow Jesus with them.

[paul]

Wow, gay Baptists? what'll they think of next.

[pnggrad79]

I wrote to the pastor and he wrote right back. He seems to be a great guy. Write to him, guys, he is a nice man and seems to be genuinely concerned with gay people and their rights. A step in the right direction.

[AJLove]

How can I write him? does he have an e-mail address.

[scott snedeker]

Originally Posted by AJLove

How can I write him? does he have an e-mail address.

sshoemaker@mpbconline.org

[sailaway58]

There not real Baptists.

[AJLove]

what do you mean not real?

[scott snedeker]

Originally Posted by sailaway58

There not real Baptists.

They are as real as we accept them to be. My world is my perception of the envirnonmental impact upon me.

I know that the overall destiny of humanity is to evolve into more kindness and understanding with each generation. The next generation will see kindness and entitlement to joy as a given for glbt folks.

Healing from within the faith may be the best way to change the meaning of Baptist. Baptist could come to mean inclusive of gays and lesbians. I can't think of a sweeter compensation for past transgressions by the Baptist church.

Fear is what we old farts on this forum should help the young folks overcome. Fear is disconnection from self, God, and love of others. It is anti-spirituality.

One good reason older folks like us will die sooner than the younger generation is that our fears die with us.

Fear and violence and hate are petty, valueless and undeserving of attention and focus. With good spiritual guides I have nearly forgotten my past of ritualized violence and fear that was my every day. There is no time to waste on something so valueless. I only occasionally mention it as a reference to generate contrast to more clearly see the miracle I have been given by following my spiritual destiny.

"Every decision I make is a choice, between a grievance and a miracle. I reliquish all grievances, resentments and regrets, and choose the miracle."

Deepak Chopra, from The Soul of Healing Meditations

[pnggrad79]

Originally Posted by sailaway58

There not real Baptists.

I don't know how you can say they are not real Baptists. I would say Westboro Baptists are not "real" Baptists more than this group. This preacher at least welcomes gays and lesbians into his congregation and from his website it at least looks like and sounds like the real thing. I would like to know why you think they are not real. What makes a real Baptist?

I was one for a very long time. Jamie? Can you chime in here, since you were once one yourself? How about RevTheoDyke? You are a recovering one. At least 3 of us once were Southern Baptists at one point in time, and this church is at present and fixing to get kicked out for its stance on the gay and lesbian issue. What makes a "real" Baptist?

I am happy that at least one Southern Baptist church is taking a stand for what is right and being inclusive. It is a huge step in the right direction to take on the Southern Baptist Convention with this issue. They might get kicked out and face a lot of backlash for it. I commend them and I think they need our prayers. Not many churches will do this for us.

[sailaway58]

Tongue in cheek: There not real Baptists.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by sailaway58

Tongue in cheek: There not real Baptists.

oh, I thought that's how you meant it. you just needed a smilie.


There not real Baptists.



and the teacher in me needs to say They're, not There.

[labguy22]

My family is Missionary Baptist and since dealing with me being gay, has seen how horribly GLBT peoples are spoken of in their church. In fact they recently moved churches because of the extreme hatred that they saw towards our community.
If people seek the truth, they will find it. I agree with Scott that people can evolve and change for the better. If hatred can be replaced by kindness then we are certainly on the right path.

[BruceChris]

I was attending University Baptist Church a few years ago, church shopping. (They're members of the American Baptist Church convention, not Southern, ELCA, Missionary, or Missouri Synod) They are open to GLBT folks, gay positive, and while I was there the minister was Nadean Bishop, now retired, an out lesbian.

At the time she had an intern, from a local seminary, who was also a *friend of Dorothy*. As she went up front to give the sermon, she was dressed up in all of the ceremonial vestements. As she passed close to me, I heard her whisper to a friend, "To think that one of my goals in life was to get OUT of wearing a dress!"

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris