2 November 2014 A.D. Southern (Ana)-Baptists Strike New Tone on Homosexuality From the Pulpit, in Private
Audi, Tamara. “Baptists Strike New Tone on Homosexuality From the Pulpit, in Private.” Wall Street Journal. 31 Oct 2014. http://m.wsj.com/articles/southern-baptists-gay-community-break-bread-at-conference-1414691923?mobile=y . Accessed 31 Oct 2014.
Southern Baptists, Gay Community Break Bread at Conference
Baptists Strike New Tone on Homosexuality From the Pulpit, in Private
Amanda Jackson and Becca Harris sing before the Ethics and Religious
Liberty Commission 2014 Conference morning session in Nashville, Tenn. About
1400 people attended the conference. Joe Buglewicz
By Tamara Audi
Updated
Oct. 30, 2014 7:41 p.m. ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—A gathering of Southern Baptists
here opened this week with Albert Mohler, stalwart head of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, apologizing for “denying the reality of sexual
orientation,” but saying orientation “can change.”
It closed with a pastor saying “no one goes to hell
for being homosexual,” but he added Christians must remind gay friends and
family members that “the day of judgment is coming.”
The statements from the largest and one of the most
conservative Protestant denominations made waves in the religious and gay
communities. Some praised the Southern Baptist Convention for softening its
tone and message when discussing homosexuals. Critics complained that nothing
really had changed.
But others who attended said a shift was taking
place. In private meetings and one-on-one encounters during the week, Southern
Baptists and gay-rights advocates said they established relationships they hope
will carry both sides through a time of deep cultural change, particularly as
the church navigates issues such as the increasing acceptance of same-sex
marriage.
Southern Baptists remain firmly opposed to
homosexuality, citing Biblical authority, and see the legalization of gay
marriage as proof of the deterioration of Christian values. Some evangelicals
and Baptists outside the SBC have begun advocating change—raising questions
about interpretations of Biblical prohibitions, and supporting Christians in
same-sex relationships. Though SBC pastors this week, while suggesting greater
engagement with gays, reiterated the practice of homosexuality is a sin.
Southern Baptists and gay-rights supporters had
clashed before this week, in print and online, but rarely had direct personal
contact.
“Everyone’s talking about each other. We needed to
start talking to each other,” said Andrew Walker, director of policy studies
for the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, which hosted the
three-day conference.
Though gay-rights advocates and Christians who back
same-sex marriage weren’t invited to speak, a small group attended to observe
and meet informally with Southern Baptists, including Mr. Walker.
“What’s significant is not the content of the
meetings, but that there were meetings at all,” said Justin Lee, executive
director of The Gay Christian Network. “It allowed us to humanize one another
and form relationships.”
Justin Lee prays before the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission 2014
Conference. The conference addressed themes related to "The Gospel,
Homosexuality, and the Future of Marriage." Joe Buglewicz
Both groups noted that each side faces pressure
from its constituents, who may see such meetings as paving the way for an
accommodation they don’t support. “No one ceded their ground” on any issue,”
Mr. Walker said. “Neither side was brandishing the white flag.”
One night, Mr. Walker and more than a dozen
Southern Baptists and gay-rights advocates gathered in a suite away from the
ballroom where more than 1,300 attendees met for the public portion of the
conference.
The two groups met tentatively over a dessert
platter, bottled water and Cokes for nearly three hours, those involved said.
To avoid public pressure, they agreed to keep the meeting small, and the topics
of discussion secret. The idea, participants from both sides said, was to get
to know each other and air grievances face-to-face. Soon, conversation was
flowing, those involved said.
Mr. Walker said there was so much to discuss, he
had to ask the group to leave as the meeting stretched past midnight.
The meeting “exceeded both sides’ expectations as
far as cheerfulness, friendliness and authenticity of the conversation,” Mr.
Walker said. “There’s greater respect all around. We disagreed, but we
disagreed very well.”
Southern Baptists have complained they are often
portrayed unfairly by gay-rights supporters as bigots, out of touch with modern
culture. The personal meetings “help defy caricature,” Mr. Walker said.
‘What’s significant is not the content of the
meetings, but that there were meetings at all.’
—Justin
Lee, Executive Director of The Gay Christian Network
Some gay-rights advocates at the
conference—especially Christian ones—said their greatest worry is for teens
growing up in strict evangelical households who may be shunned by their
families for coming out as gay.
While the private meetings offered hope, advocates
said, they were disappointed by speech in some public sessions, including from
Christians who described themselves as “struggling with same-sex attraction.”
Rev. Jeff Hood and Brandan Robertson converse with conference attendees.
Mr. Hood is a Minister of Social Justice at Cathedral of Hope United Church of
Christ in Dallas and Mr. Robertson is the spokesman for Evangelicals for
Marriage Equality. Joe Buglewicz
But many SBC pastors and leaders encouraged
Baptists not to shun gay, lesbian and transgender—or LGBT—people, as well as
gay family members.
In a sign of the practical struggles Baptists face,
some of the conference focused on advice. “What if you get invited to a
same-sex wedding ceremony?” Russell Moore, president of the SBC’s Ethics and
Religious Liberty Commission, was asked. “In that case, I would not attend the
wedding. I would attend the reception,” he said. In that way, he said, a
Baptist could say, “I love you and I’m here with you. I disagree with you, but
I love you.”
When Mr. Moore was asked what do to if a “family
member in a lesbian relationship wants to come visit for the holidays,” he
said, “You should not cut yourselves off from relatives or friends who are lost
or in situations you do not agree with.”
Mr. Mohler, head of the theological seminary, said
he hoped the conference would make Christians “motivated to be unafraid to
engage with LGBT persons.”
Mr. Mohler this week met with Matthew Vines, an
openly gay Christian author who argues the Bible doesn’t prohibit lifelong
same-sex marriage. Mr. Mohler wrote a response to Mr. Vines’ book, “God and the
Gay Christian.”
“It was a gracious, honest conversation. I think
all evangelical Christians are having to learn anew how to discuss these
issues,” Mr. Mohler said.
The pair agreed to keep in touch over email, and
alert each other if one ever felt wrongly portrayed by the other.
“This was an amazing event,” said Mr. Vines. “Not
for the public sessions but for the private meetings. It’s not like anyone is
suddenly pro-gay,” said Mr. Vines. But, he added, “it feels like a new era.”
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