Regional leaders of the American Baptist Churches USA have issued a pastoral letter declaring that denominational debate on homosexuality “threatens to break us apart.”
In their statement, released Dec. 2, regional executive ministers outlined steps they would take to deal with the differences, including refraining from approving “practicing homosexuals” for regional and national positions of the church.
“The controversy over homosexuality has consumed our agenda, our discussion time and our energy; yet the controversy still threatens to break us apart as American Baptists,” they wrote.
The executives said they took the action regarding gay and lesbian members “to preserve unity within our American Baptist fellowship and to promote faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” They added that they would “continue listening to those who hold differing viewpoints.”
Other steps they pledged to take include refraining from conducting marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples and “participating in public demonstrations advocating on either side” of the debate over homosexuality.
The regional leaders noted that the “prevailing view” of American Baptists is that “the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,” but they acknowledged that some individuals and congregations hold different points of view.
Religion News Service