DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — A Durham, N.C., church has voted to pull out of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina over the convention's treatment of another congregation that admitted gay members.
The members of Watts Street Baptist Church voted May 16 to end their financial support of the state convention. The decision was mainly in response to the convention's removal of McGill Baptist Church in Concord from its rolls, said pastor Mel Williams.
“We really thought it was a violation of local autonomy,” he said. In 1992 Watts Street broke ties with the Southern Baptist Convention.
McGill was removed from the state convention last year for baptizing two men believed to be gay. Officials cited a 1992 convention policy that prohibits accepting funds from “any church which knowingly takes, or has taken, any official action which manifests public approval, promotion or blessing of homosexuality.”
McGill leaders deny violating the policy, saying they don't ask new believers about their lifestyles before baptizing them.
Jim Royston, executive director of the convention, voiced regret over the church's decision, but added, “I respect their autonomy and would welcome their return to convention membership if they choose.”
Watts Street moderator Jim Drennan said the church action passed on a “strong vote” but with some members dissenting. The motion affirmed the congregation's right to determine its membership policies, adding the church will “continue to welcome as members any person professing that Jesus is Lord and wishing to serve God as a member of our congregation, with no questions asked about that person's personal life.”
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