It’s pretty rare that we praise Baptists on this blog, but you gotta absolutely love the gay-affirming folks over at Royal Lane Baptist Church.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas yesterday voted 63-4 to break ties with the 500-member church, according to The Dallas Morning News, after the church refused to waver from its acceptance of gays and lesbians, including as deacons. The vote by Texas’ largest Baptist group means it will no longer accept funds from the gay-affirming church. Big deal, right?
Well, it turns out there are also some more serious consequences for the church’s decision to stand up to the bigots at BGCT. One Royal Lane member will have to leave the BGCT board, and two other members who are BGCT employees will either have to give up their jobs or switch churches. One has apparently decided to tell BGCT to take the job and shove it.
Randel Everett, chief homophobe at BGCT, called the decision “painful.” Everett said BGCT churches should “welcome homosexuals,” but Royal Lane’s decision to allow “practicing homosexuals” as deacons meant that it was going against the group’s view that homosexuality is sinful. (The church apparently opted not to use the defense that the deacons are no longer practicing, but have perfected their homosexuality).
Anyhow, during yesterday’s meeting, the Royal Lane member who is a BGCT board member, Doug Washington, spoke up in defense of the church and its “practicing homosexuals.”
“To say something is wrong with them is to say God made a mistake,” Washington said.
Washington added that the church won’t be bullied by the BGCT.
“I think we’re stronger than ever,” he said.
Hallelujah!
13 Comments
Amen to that!
“Randel Everett, chief homophobe at BGCT, called the decision “painful.” Everett said BGCT churches should “welcome homosexuals,” but Royal Lane’s decision to allow “practicing homosexuals” as deacons meant that it was going against the group’s view that homosexuality is sinful. (The church apparently opted not to use the defense that the deacons are no longer practicing, but have perfected their homosexuality).”
What he is saying is, they will take the GLBT $$, but don’t expect to be recognized or get any rights from us. Does no one else see the irony of this?
I don’t often go to church anymore, but as a recovering Southern Baptist, I go to Royal Lane when I choose to attend a church. Thank God for this congregation. I encourage myself and anyone else who can to support Royal Lane.
Paul, you may not go, but I’ve seen Sister Helen Holy at First Baptist lots of times and was she badmouthing you.
I love it when a local congregation thumbs its collective noses at a backward thinking, demonic, antiquated denomination. All it takes is one, and others will see the light and follow. Royal Lane Baptist Church is the Rosa Parks of the real christian movement.
I’m confused. I thought Sister Helen Holy and Paul Williams were the same person. (Hi Paul!) 🙂
Only Paul could possibly answer that.
are people who believe in fairy tales, santa claus, and the easter bunny really newsworthy?
They all need to drop their superstitions and pick up a science book.
Royal Lane Baptist Church is a great congregation, courageous and compassionate toward everyone. I am Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, and for years we have had great students working at Royal Lane. This year is no exception. The youth minister at Royal Lane is one of ours. I couldn’t be prouder to associate with a church!
As long as we allow people who believe in sky fairies to command authority and respect, we’ll have this sort of asinine nonsense.
Tax churches now. Religion is a business and should be treated as such. If you want to pray to a sky fairie, do it in the back yard for free.
I’m pleased to see David Taffet is in a Baptist Church! Do they know this at the Temple?
The Southern Baptist Convention is the laughing stock of most major cities outside of the south. Most of those homophobic ministers as closeted gay men anyway. What a bunch of idiots… The Southern Baptist are the Disease of Christianity……I am Glad I left Christianity years ago…..
I don’t think God has anything to do with a person choosing to be gay, but I do think everyone deserves an equal opportunity to be loved. This of course does not mean I agree with them being pastors, deacons, or etc… Meaning: I can state a fact pertaining to their sexual behaviors if I have witnessed it, but if I didn’t that is considered judging…..and we are not suppose to do that! So……I say let God decide….