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
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Historic Baptist church adopts gay non-discrimination policy

NewsBob Allen  |  August 17, 2015

By Bob Allen

A historic church formerly affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention is making headlines with a “discernment” process about how to relate to the LGBTQ community.

In early May members of First Baptist Church in Greenville, S.C., approved an affirmation that: “In all facets of the life and ministry of our church, including but not limited to membership, baptism, ordination, marriage, teaching and committee/organizational leadership, First Baptist, Greenville, will not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The Greenville News ran a front-page story on the policy Aug. 3 headlined “First Baptist opens its doors to same-sex couples.” Conservative religious media passed on the news with alarm. “First Baptist Church to ordain gay, transgender ministers,” Charisma News reported Aug. 13. The Christian News Network framed the story, “180-year-old Baptist church to perform same-sex ‘weddings,’ ordain homosexuals.”

Internal church communications described a process toward reaching “consensus” a controversial issue as an alternative to an up-or-down vote. While not all church members signed off on the statement, they agreed not to let it divide the congregation.

jim dant“We made no decision regarding the issue of homosexuality – members hold different convictions,” Pastor Jim Dant wrote in the church newsletter. “We did make a statement on what it means to be church – diverse and respectful of God’s unique work in the life of every member, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

While unique in heritage — its founding pastor, William Bullein Johnson, was first president of the Southern Baptist Convention — First Baptist, Greenville, is representative of a number of traditionally moderate churches finding themselves in between a liberal “welcoming and affirming” stance toward homosexuality and conservatives like leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention who view anything short of calling on gays to repent as condoning sin.

Last fall the Arcus Foundation awarded the Alliance of Baptists $104,000 for an initiative to help such congregations begin healthy conversations about an issue that has in the past divided denominations and is unavoidable in the larger culture today.

Tim Moore, writer-in-residence at Sardis Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., predicted in an Alliance blog Aug. 12 that with increasing support for same-sex marriage the “in-between” churches are going to feel a pinch.

“In the years to come it will be more difficult to attract young adults — not an easy task already — if they do not begin to welcome gay and lesbian Christians,” Moore said. “Young adults have little tolerance for bigoted or judgmental churches, which is what they will label unwilling churches, rightly or wrongly.”

“If there is a generational split, between older members who are ‘not ready’ and younger members and seekers who are demanding it, the pinch will be harder,” he continued. “Do you risk alienating your best donors, or your future?”

The discernment process at First Baptist, Greenville, began in February 2014, when deacons voted to appoint a task force to “study the viewpoint FBC will take in relating to members of the LGBT community.”

Cody Sanders, an openly gay preacher and author of Queer Lessons for Churches on the Straight and Narrow, filled the pulpit at First Baptist the first Sunday in March 2014, while the church was without a permanent pastor.

After electing Dant as senior minister last June, the church held four “discernment” sessions on consecutive Sundays last November to talk through various viewpoints.

The LGBT Discernment Team reported its findings of the church consensus to deacons May 4. A majority of the diaconate endorsed the report. In May members of the congregation were invited to stand to indicate their affirmation of the statement. A majority stood, but the few who didn’t were invited to stand to agree to remain in fellowship. By the time it was over, according to the Greenville News, everyone was standing.

“This church’s journey is like of a lot of churches’ journey,” Dant told the newspaper. “You think you’re about to make a decision about homosexuality or how the church is going to deal with the LGBT community or live with the LGBT community, and it really ended up not being a decision about homosexuality but being a larger decision about what it means to be a church.”

First Baptist, Greenville, voted to leave the Southern Baptist Convention in 1999 over differences about issues such as the role of women in ministry. For years the SBC has excluded from membership churches which “act to affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior.”

Today First Baptist affiliates with both the Alliance of Baptists, which supports LGBT inclusion, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which bans the hiring of gay staff members and missionaries but does not dictate its position on homosexuality to the local church.

“We are a diverse people,” Dant described the congregation to the Greenville News. “We sit on pews every Sunday morning with people who have diverse opinions.”

“We are not united by our agreement on any one issue,” Dant said. “We’re united by our desire to be followers of Christ in a particular community.”

“It’s really not up to us who the Spirit of God falls on,” he said.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Tags:HomosexualityCongregations
More by
Bob Allen
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • Are Americans attending church more or less than before the pandemic? It’s complicated

      News

    • Preying preachers: Confronting clergy sexual abuse

      Analysis

    • ‘In a pluralistic democracy’: An interview with Jennifer Rubin

      Opinion

    • Guys, guns and gods

      Opinion


    Curated

    • Carl Lentz, in first staff position since Hillsong, joins Transformation Church in Tulsa

      Carl Lentz, in first staff position since Hillsong, joins Transformation Church in Tulsa

    • UK’s Religion-Free Speech Debates Enter ‘Thoughtcrime’ Zone

      UK’s Religion-Free Speech Debates Enter ‘Thoughtcrime’ Zone

    • Jimmy Carter believes Black lives matter. Would his decency be considered ‘woke’ today?

      Jimmy Carter believes Black lives matter. Would his decency be considered ‘woke’ today?

    • The Man Who Leads Senate Prayer Is Fed Up With ‘Thoughts And Prayers’

      The Man Who Leads Senate Prayer Is Fed Up With ‘Thoughts And Prayers’

    Read Next:

    How the church of the Nashville shooting winds through history, gender wars, church discipline and the SBC sexual abuse study

    AnalysisMark Wingfield

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • On the separation of church and university

      OpinionPaul R. Gilliam III

    • An open letter to Baptist women

      OpinionAnna M.V. Bowden

    • Bob Jones University president resigns in battle with board chairman

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Evangelical leaders beg DeSantis and Florida Legislature not to make them criminals for transporting immigrants to church

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • If you’re going to quote 1 Timothy 3:2, be sure to read Exodus 20:17

      OpinionBrad Bull

    • 650 UMC clergy and laity publish letter supporting International Transgender Day of Visibility

      NewsBNG staff

    • On the indictment of a president

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Boy Scouts closer to settling abuse claims, but challenges remain

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Oral history archive explores relationship between faith and forced migration

      NewsMatthew Blanton

    • The shift from positional power to relational power

      OpinionMahan Siler

    • What the SBC can learn from NCAA women’s basketball

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Guys, guns and gods

      OpinionNapoleon Harris

    • Are Americans attending church more or less than before the pandemic? It’s complicated

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • A response to ‘The List’

      OpinionAlice Cates Clarke

    • What Mike Law got right

      OpinionJennifer Hawks

    • Preying preachers: Confronting clergy sexual abuse

      AnalysisJoel Bowman Sr.

    • Transitions for the week of 3-31-23

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • ‘In a pluralistic democracy’: An interview with Jennifer Rubin

      OpinionGreg Garrett, Senior Columnist

    • Northern Seminary trustees respond to student complaints

      NewsElizabeth Souder

    • I’m one of the female pastors on the SBC’s hit list

      OpinionCarlisle Davidhizar

    • How the church of the Nashville shooting winds through history, gender wars, church discipline and the SBC sexual abuse study

      AnalysisMark Wingfield

    • Baptist church jumps into service as reunion point for Covenant School children and parents

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • School shootings: How can we respond to children, parents, teachers and others affected?

      OpinionBrad Schwall

    • Part of former student’s case against Patterson and Southwestern dismissed by judge

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Why we should amplify women in all roles of church leadership

      OpinionBrittany Stillwell

    • Bob Jones University president resigns in battle with board chairman

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Evangelical leaders beg DeSantis and Florida Legislature not to make them criminals for transporting immigrants to church

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • 650 UMC clergy and laity publish letter supporting International Transgender Day of Visibility

      NewsBNG staff

    • Boy Scouts closer to settling abuse claims, but challenges remain

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Oral history archive explores relationship between faith and forced migration

      NewsMatthew Blanton

    • Are Americans attending church more or less than before the pandemic? It’s complicated

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Transitions for the week of 3-31-23

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • Northern Seminary trustees respond to student complaints

      NewsElizabeth Souder

    • Baptist church jumps into service as reunion point for Covenant School children and parents

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Part of former student’s case against Patterson and Southwestern dismissed by judge

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Antisemitic-motivated assaults at record levels

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Peter James Flamming, ‘bridge-building’ pastor in Texas and Virginia

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • New court documents show First Baptist Houston leaders knew of allegations against Pressler in 2004

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • A tragic tale of death on the Mediterranean Sea amid Tunisian and British migrant backlash

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Movements expand and contract, Black Lives Matter co-founder says

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Ukrainians join European Baptists to help quake victims in Syria and Turkey

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Two Baptist seminaries among six ‘recommended’ by new Global Methodist Church

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Advocates for constitutional ban on female ‘pastors’ in SBC publish a list of 170 churches they deem in violation

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Former staff at Knoxville church see a familiar pattern in Northern Seminary’s complaints about Shiell’s leadership

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Egged on by evangelical influence, Ugandan Parliament passes harsh new anti-gay bill

      NewsAnthony Akaeze

    • Judge’s dismissal of 36 churches’ lawsuit holds implications for other UMC departures

      NewsCynthia Astle

    • Barna finds pastors are exhausted and isolated, which could be an opportunity for change

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • One-third of Northern Seminary students express no confidence in trustees

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • He was wrongly put on Death Row and believes you could be too

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • On the separation of church and university

      OpinionPaul R. Gilliam III

    • An open letter to Baptist women

      OpinionAnna M.V. Bowden

    • If you’re going to quote 1 Timothy 3:2, be sure to read Exodus 20:17

      OpinionBrad Bull

    • On the indictment of a president

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • The shift from positional power to relational power

      OpinionMahan Siler

    • What the SBC can learn from NCAA women’s basketball

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Guys, guns and gods

      OpinionNapoleon Harris

    • A response to ‘The List’

      OpinionAlice Cates Clarke

    • What Mike Law got right

      OpinionJennifer Hawks

    • ‘In a pluralistic democracy’: An interview with Jennifer Rubin

      OpinionGreg Garrett, Senior Columnist

    • I’m one of the female pastors on the SBC’s hit list

      OpinionCarlisle Davidhizar

    • School shootings: How can we respond to children, parents, teachers and others affected?

      OpinionBrad Schwall

    • Why we should amplify women in all roles of church leadership

      OpinionBrittany Stillwell

    • Lent, confession and the ‘no true Scotsman’ fallacy

      OpinionRobert P. Jones

    • What pastors may not say, but really want us to understand

      OpinionMark Tidsworth

    • Religious leaders must step up to support our trans siblings

      OpinionPaul Brandeis Raushenbush

    • To increase congregational health, decrease domestic violence

      OpinionGeneece Goertzen-Morrison

    • From a Gen Z perspective, another ‘Jesus Revolution’ seems improbable

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • Trumpism is leading America to the valley of dry bones

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Dear churches who invite women to preach

      OpinionSarah Boberg

    • How dare they publish that list

      OpinionArthur Wright Jr.

    • ‘Woke’: I don’t think that word means what you say it does

      OpinionRoger Lovette

    • The Russian Orthodox Church is a big loser in the Russian-Ukrainian war

      OpinionAndrey Shirin

    • On the path to immigration justice, it’s time for Biden to change course

      OpinionSalote Soqo

    • If a story is meant to evolve, then so are we

      OpinionKaitlin Curtice

    • Carl Lentz, in first staff position since Hillsong, joins Transformation Church in Tulsa

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • UK’s Religion-Free Speech Debates Enter ‘Thoughtcrime’ Zone

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Jimmy Carter believes Black lives matter. Would his decency be considered ‘woke’ today?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • The Man Who Leads Senate Prayer Is Fed Up With ‘Thoughts And Prayers’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • At launch rally in Waco, former president sets the stakes for Trump ’24 campaign with apocalyptic, violent, genocidal rhetoric

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Judge rules immigration officials violated pastor’s religious freedom rights

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • A ‘historic’ day in Israel ends with a political compromise — and big questions about the future

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • NY’s power to regulate religious schools trimmed by judge

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Amid rise in antisemitism, Yeshiva University focuses on Holocaust education

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Is Pope Francis ‘The Only One Who Can Make A Difference’ In Uganda’s Anti-LGBTQ Bills?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • “We Will Fight You for It”: Can Womenpriests Save the Catholic Church?

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Whitney Houston’s family wants to highlight her gospel roots

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pelosi on cleric who barred her from Communion: ‘That’s his problem, not mine’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Criminal or Not, Trump’s Case Is a Moral Test for Christians

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Netanyahu vows more active role in Israel’s judiciary fight following a day of tense protests

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Jimmy Carter’s religious values were never far from his presidency or his policy

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pioneer of gospel music rediscovered in Pittsburgh archives

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • As The King’s College faces closure, scrutiny turns to its backers

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Communicators for Christ: how homeschool debate leagues shaped the rising stars of the Christian right

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Israeli leader halts bill against Christian proselytizing

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Trump’s arrest ‘prediction’ inflames holy war narrative and sanctifies violence — welcome to Trump ’24

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • German prosecutors examined late pope in abuse probe

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Court rehears case to protect Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site in Arizona

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Antisemitism on Twitter has more than doubled since Elon Musk took over the platform – new research

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Israel’s Reform rabbi and legislator on judicial overhaul: ‘It doesn’t look good.’

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2023 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