Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Don’t worry, gay Scouts, Southern Baptists still ‘love’ you

OpinionThomas Whitley  |  June 19, 2013

By Thomas Whitley

At last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, messengers from SBC churches around the country voted on and approved a resolution concerning the recent change in membership policy by the Boy Scouts of America, which says that “no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.”

It is no secret that the SBC has long believed that homosexuality is in violation of God’s intentions for human sexuality and that it is a deplorable sin and affront to God. And as many expected, the SBC messengers voted to express their disapproval of the BSA’s decision, their approval of its member churches that feel the need to “prayerfully … assess their continued relationship with the BSA” and their “support for those churches and families that as a matter of conscience can no longer be part of the Scouting family.”

The recent decision of the BSA has, overnight apparently, turned Scouting into a new mission field, as if it weren’t already an overtly Christian institution.

“We encourage churches and families that remain in the Boy Scouts to seek to impact as many boys as possible with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, to work toward the reversal of this new membership policy, and to advocate against any future change in leadership and membership policy that normalizes sexual conduct opposed to the biblical standard.”

None of this surprises me, though it does still bother me in many ways and for many reasons. The kicker for me, though, was the final declaration of the resolution.

“We declare our love in Christ for all young people regardless of their perceived sexual orientation, praying that God will bring all youth into a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Sure, they think you’re going to hell if you believe you were born gay and that it’s just who you are.

Sure, they think your very existence is an affront to God and a grave example of the power of sin in this world.

Sure, they will tell you that you can never act on the “urges” you have, but have to remain celibate because the person you happen to love has the same genitalia as you.

Sure, they think their “sexual orientation” is true and real and pure while yours is merely “perceived” and is the result of a choice you made.

But it’s really all okay, because they “love” you.

It seems to me that they sure do have a funny way of showing it.

Having spent the majority of my life thus far in Baptist (and mostly Southern Baptist) churches, I recognize that the SBC does not speak for all members of Southern Baptist churches, nor does it speak for all who identify as Baptist or as Christian.

This is, though, the governing body, and they do hope (intend) that all member churches follow their stances on issues like this.

Churches don’t have to adopt every position approved at the annual meetings, but my experience has been that hot-button topics like this (and women as pastors, for example) often lead to churches being kicked out of the SBC, usually at the local (association) level.

— This commentary appeared previously on the ABPNews blog.


OPINION: Views expressed in Baptist News Global columns and commentaries are solely those of the authors.
Tags:Southern Baptist ConventionHomosexualityCommentariesBoy Scouts
More by
Thomas Whitley
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Welcome to Gilead

      Opinion

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      News

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      News

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      Opinion


    Curated

    • 8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      June 29, 2022
    • ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      June 29, 2022
    • Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      June 29, 2022
    • Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      June 28, 2022
    Read Next:

    Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

    NewsJeff Brumley

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Churches must learn to adapt to ‘permanent transition,’ Leonard stresses

      NewsMarv Knox

    • While the SBC shuns women as preachers, CBF celebrates a new generation of women as preachers

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • The consent of mothers

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Welcome to Gilead

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Dear closeted queer one, Pride is for you

      OpinionAmber Cantorna

    • Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Christianity: Where the end justifies the means

      OpinionPhillip Thomas

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Catholic bishops drop opposition to lesbian becoming a foster parent

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Why men should be concerned about the abortion ruling

      OpinionDarrell Hamilton II

    • Christian nationalism links gun rights and ‘Christian nation’ ideals in dangerous mix, Tyler and Hollman say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Why I’m a pro-choice pastor: I’ve listened to the stories of too many women

      OpinionBob Browning

    • Who’ll bring the sackcloth and ashes to CBF General Assembly this week?

      OpinionMolly Brummett Wudel

    • Finding inspiration from Fannie Lou Hamer when freedom is under assault

      OpinionMary Alice Birdwhistell

    • Was that a blatantly racist tweet from a Texas senator or not?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Here’s what pastors said this Sunday in churches not celebrating the Supreme Court’s abortion decision

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • The French Dreyfus Affair and Trump’s Big Lie

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Women of childbearing age are least likely to see strict abortion laws as best deterrent against abortion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Independence Day: Not to celebrate but to reflect

      OpinionKathy Manis Findley

    • U.S. State Department calls out Russia, China, Afghanistan, Myanmar for extreme religious freedom abuses

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Two viruses threaten the life of the Southern Baptist Convention: Male hierarchy and dominion theology

      AnalysisEllis Orozco

    • Churches must learn to adapt to ‘permanent transition,’ Leonard stresses

      NewsMarv Knox

    • While the SBC shuns women as preachers, CBF celebrates a new generation of women as preachers

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • For now, David Platt has won the battle against internal critics at McLean Bible Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Jesus calls women to ministry by name and asks them to rise up, Stewart says in fiery BWIM sermon

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Daniel Vestal writes of the changing chapters of life and faith

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Supreme Court once again hands conservative evangelicals a win for free expression over state establishment of religion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Catholic bishops drop opposition to lesbian becoming a foster parent

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Christian nationalism links gun rights and ‘Christian nation’ ideals in dangerous mix, Tyler and Hollman say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Was that a blatantly racist tweet from a Texas senator or not?

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Here’s what pastors said this Sunday in churches not celebrating the Supreme Court’s abortion decision

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Women of childbearing age are least likely to see strict abortion laws as best deterrent against abortion

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • U.S. State Department calls out Russia, China, Afghanistan, Myanmar for extreme religious freedom abuses

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Pranoto, Shaw, Smith and Younger join BNG board of directors

      NewsBNG staff

    • Uyghur American elected chairman of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • When a Mexican cartel kidnapped a Baptist pastor, they got more than they bargained for

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • The Black community needs allies who listen and act, scholar says

      NewsPat Cole

    • Georgia Baptists hit snag on sale of 16-year-old headquarters property in suburban Atlanta

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • At Faith and Freedom conference, evangelical Christian voters once again abandon their concern for marital fidelity

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Annual report on Baptist women in ministry finds some gains but serious losses due to COVID

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Church-state separationists join Justice Sotomayor in blasting the Supreme Court’s ruling in a Maine school voucher case

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Conservative clergywoman claims United Methodist system unjust

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • In Africa, inflation and a food crisis threaten not just the economy but people’s lives

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • American support for abortion rights at highest level since 1995, Gallup says

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • ‘Our Father’: A quiverfull of racism and anti-reproductive rights

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • The consent of mothers

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Welcome to Gilead

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Dear closeted queer one, Pride is for you

      OpinionAmber Cantorna

    • Christianity: Where the end justifies the means

      OpinionPhillip Thomas

    • Why men should be concerned about the abortion ruling

      OpinionDarrell Hamilton II

    • Why I’m a pro-choice pastor: I’ve listened to the stories of too many women

      OpinionBob Browning

    • Who’ll bring the sackcloth and ashes to CBF General Assembly this week?

      OpinionMolly Brummett Wudel

    • Finding inspiration from Fannie Lou Hamer when freedom is under assault

      OpinionMary Alice Birdwhistell

    • The French Dreyfus Affair and Trump’s Big Lie

      OpinionDavid Gushee, Senior Columnist

    • Independence Day: Not to celebrate but to reflect

      OpinionKathy Manis Findley

    • Progress on sexual abuse in the SBC? Not so fast

      OpinionDavid Clohessy and Christa Brown

    • Reflections on my mother’s funeral: The heart has reasons

      OpinionDavid Ramsey

    • When ‘orthodoxy’ won’t hold: The SBC and the rest of us

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Seven suggestions for preventing conflict before it happens

      OpinionBill Wilson

    • The gospel according to mammals

      OpinionTyler Tankersley

    • How God used Jay Bakker to teach me about race and loving all people

      OpinionMaina Mwaura

    • When a teenager gets kicked to the curb by Christian parents

      OpinionDan McGee and Linda Francis Cross

    • Unzipped: How (not) to commute

      OpinionEric Minton

    • When it comes to leading corporate prayer, are we really all in this together?

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Is America racist at heart?

      OpinionEugene G. Akins III

    • Note to self: Get rid of resting jerkface

      OpinionErich Bridges

    • Don’t keep sweet: Why white Christians need to celebrate Juneteenth

      OpinionErica Whitaker

    • Letter to the Editor: The importance of establishing best practices for pastoral searches

      OpinionLetters to the Editor

    • Hymn Stories: ‘Will You Come and Follow Me’

      OpinionBeverly A. Howard

    • 8 Christian Conservatives Who Promoted False Claims Of Rigged, Stolen Election

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • ‘Biblical’ insect swarms spur Oregon push to fight pests

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Mine can be built on Apache sacred site, Oak Flat, federal appeals court rules

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Evangelist Nick Hall: Christians have become ‘loud about everything but Jesus’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Boston city council member walks back tweet about ‘letting the Zionists shake you down’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Religious schools may face another hurdle to state tuition

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Counting the Cost of Paying Ransoms for Missionaries

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • At LA’s DisclosureFest, a milieu of New Age mysticism, capitalism and conspiracy talk

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Worshippers at Baptist church in Nigeria abducted

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Biden administration proposes protections for transgender students and against sexual violence in schools

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Columbia Theological Seminary students object to firing of Black administrator

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope orders online release of WWII-era Pius XII Jewish files

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Demolishing schools after a mass shooting reflects humans’ deep-rooted desire for purification rituals

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Has American conservatism abandoned the Christian right?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In Colorado, a GOP rarity: An abortion rights candidate

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • A church was ordered to rescind its gay deacon. Now it weighs its next step.

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Can the Church Still Enact Justice When a Pastor Sues His Accusers?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Republican Lauren Boebert jokes about AR-15s and Jesus — and yes, she’s a ‘real’ Christian

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • This World Refugee Day, rising white nationalism meets the largest refugee population in history — which is no coincidence

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How evangelical Christians are sizing up the 2024 GOP race for president

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Abortion bill, confederate holiday removal signed by Edwards

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Buddhist leader in Bhutan fully ordains 144 women, resuming ancient tradition

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Banning Nancy Pelosi from Communion May Have Backfired

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How Franklin Graham pushed a domestic abuse victim to return to her husband

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Poor People’s Campaign holds major DC rally to combat poverty

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2022 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS