Conflict over homosexuality at a moderate Texas Baptist church has become widely public despite the church leadership's hopes to keep the dispute internal.
Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth is debating whether an anniversary pictorial directory should feature family photos of congregants, which would include photos of homosexual couples who are part of the church. Deacons of the church voted on Monday to recommend no photos of families but just that of church groups in the directory.
The directory is part of the church's celebration of its 125th anniversary. It has raised the broader and more controversial question of whether the church would be moving beyond "welcoming" gay people to "affirming" homosexuality if photos of gay couples were to be included.
“Many feel so strongly about this issue that a church directory in which gay couples are pictured together seems dishonest. And others feel just as strongly that a church directory in which gay couples are pictured separately seems dishonest," Senior Pastor Brett Younger has said.
A congregational vote on whether to include photos was postponed from December 2007 to Feb. 24.
But in the weeks leading up to the vote, troubles are mounting and some members want to oust the pastor.
A group of congregants called Friends for the Future of Broadway submitted 162 signatures to the deacons on Sunday, requesting for a meeting to vote on whether Younger should "vacate the pulpit."
The letter, signed by Robert Saul, states the pastor has created an atmosphere of "polarization, turmoil, [and] tension" and mishandled the directory issue. The group also lists other complaints about Younger's leadership and says he has led the church in too liberal a direction on homosexuality and theology, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Only 100 signatures are required to force a vote according to church bylaws, group spokesman Robert Saul told the local newspaper.
Some church members, reportedly not affiliated with the Friends group, had offered Younger $50,000 to resign, the pastor confirmed with the local newspaper. He did not take the bribe.
"This is a chance for our church to grow spiritually, to learn more about who we are and who we can be under God," Younger said.
Younger has received support from more than 200 Broadway congregants who signed a statement opposing the effort to fire him.
Although Younger and the church deacons have asked members not to debate the issue with the media, the conflict has been detailed on several blogs which have been cited by the press.
The blogger of the Web site progressivebaptist.net had planned to stop blogging about the Broadway Baptist conflict, but after realizing the issue is already out in the open, has decided to continue.
One of the more than 200 signers supporting Younger, the blogger argued that the central issue is not Younger but the direction of the church.
"Those on the other side think that if we fire Younger, we will be on the path to being the historic, conservative church they want," the Broadway Baptist blogger wrote on Saturday. "That is not the case. If they succeed in firing Younger, we will still have all the same questions, conflicts, and problems that we currently face."
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Comments
You're nitpicking Chris - You know what I meant. I should have said alcoholics. Regardless of whether you believe its a sin or not, they should be included in the directory or no one should be in it. You know what I meant!
Ifeelfine,
Recovering alcoholics? Let us see, that would be someone in the active process of overcoming alcohol right? I don't think anyone would have a problem with recovering homosexuals being included. Nobody is perfect, the difference with Christians is that we have the Grace and Mercy of God, and we are actively seeking perfection in our daily lives.
I hope they don't put any pictures of obese people in the directory - we wouldn't want it to look like they are endorsing gluttony. Same thing with any recovering alcoholics - don't want to endorse that. Heck let's just put perfect people in the directory - Give everyone a picture of Jesus and be done with it!
Gal 1:7-9
7 Which is not another sort: only there are some who give you trouble, desiring to make changes in the good news of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, were to be a preacher to you of good news other than that which we have given you, let there be a curse on him. 9 As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man is a preacher to you of any good news other than that which has been given to you, let there be a curse on him.
Hmm, I believe that God speaks of this, as more and more churches introduce destructive teachings, and some are demons introducing this stuff and this to me is another reason to stay closer to Jesus Christ.
He is The Word and He has told us what is an abomination to Him and what is not; could HE not be more plainful. He speaks the truth in love; and if one feels conviction upon hearing the WORD of GOD; GOOD, this I pray leads to Godly repentence.
We as the Body of Christ need to be EXPOSING these things, NOT approving of them: be careful you do not condemn yourself by what you approve!!!
This is about JESUS CHRIST and HIS BODY, which is to be Holy! How can the light have anything to do with the deeds of darkness??
STAND up CHURCH and do not be yoked together with unbelievers! You cannot take part of God's Word and not the whole!!!
For HIS Glory! Unity is with the followers of Jesus Christ, who worship Him in spirit and in truth and OBEY HIS COMPLETE WORD!
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Sadly, this church sacrificed conservative theology years ago as they fought political battles. Read more at www.sermonzone.com/blog
eahaddix,
I am not exactly sure what you are saying, but it is important for you to remember that the Church is the Body of Christ, it is a corporate body and while iindividual spiritual walks are important, we must be connected with other believers and work together in an effective way. An individual church is made up of at least two or three Christians for the purpose of worship and study of God. However, we should seek to be connected with all of our brothers and sisters. Paul was clear on this, and if you don't like it then you do not have to do it, but it will be unChristian.
Sigh. This is a good example of why I do not seek fellowship in a traditional institutional “church.” If a group of traditional institutional churchgoers believe that a corporate spiritual walk “outranks” one’s private spiritual walk, then only a few misguided souls are required to start an unBiblical social domino effect within the said traditional institutional “church.” Specifically, when people think according to how their respective social clique thinks, people can easily spread unBiblical thinking through their social cliques. Consequently, unBiblical thinking can easily accumulate an unseen “foothold” in the said traditional institutional “church” before the opposing viewpoint can “check” and “balance” it with sound thinking.
So, with this in mind, we can say that a traditional institutional church has no *concrete* defense against being infiltrated by unBiblical doctrine, unless a traditional institutional church prioritizes one’s private spiritual walk over a corporate spiritual walk.
More power to them! They wouldn't be in this mess in the first place if they hadn't compromised the Word of God to begin with.
Eph 5:3-7 "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
1Cr 5:9-13 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people–
not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Accept the repentant? Most certainly! Accept the unrepentant as a brother? God forbid!
If we went back only a couple decades, who woud have belileved such things would be happening today? This is the result of our tax dollars at work in the public schools and Universities. An entire generation has been brainwashed to view homosexuality as 'normal.'
Unless more Christians are bold and speak out about this issue what kind of churches and country will our children and grandchilldren find?
But, sadly, some Christians who speak out do not follow Christ's commands. We must be crystal clear that this is an abomination while speaking the truth in love.
Article: "This is a chance for our church to grow spiritually, to learn more about who we are and who we can be under God," Younger said.
Take heed, Mr. Younger. There will be no spiritual growth down the path you are going, only spiritual darkness.
Take heed, BROADWAY Baptist Church:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and BROAD is the WAY, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mt 7:13, 14).
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
The above states the following:
They are not a couple in God's eyes and never will be
They are conducting an abomination in God's eyes
They are not repentent in God's eyes
They are continuing a ungodly relationship
Since they are doing the above:
1. They should not be members of any church based on scripture
2. The pastor should be fired unless he repents
3. A vote should be taken by the church on dismembership as well.
We are quickly approaching the times.
If this Church was truly preaching the gospel then any gay couple or homosexual who had been attending that church for very long would have either repented or left by now! The gospel is to bring men's hearts under conviction that leds them to repentance of salvation! When you "welcome" gays into your church it should be expected that they will eventually repent or their conscience will not be able to withstand the guilt and conviction they will come under as a result of hearing the truth. If this conviction does not ultimately come then you realize the church is not preaching the gospel
Revelations 3:11 and 12 states that, "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name."
I pray that no one loses their crown which Jesus has promised to those that will "endure" until the end. If someone looses their crown, they are ineffective as a Christian/Saint. This makes them unusable in the world that is lost and dying without any hope and without God! It is now time to cease sinning in all its various forms (and repent and have our sins blotted out). If we turn from our sin and turn to God, we can be healed and cleansed by the Power of God's Holy Spirit. The sad truth is this: The Gospel is not "beautiful" to a person who continues to sin! This is deception in its purest form (if I can use the word, purest). May we all obtain mercy from the Lord and desire less to be identified with the "swift and the strong," but rather with the "ones who endure until the end!" May God add His Grace to the Body of Christ, The Real, and Living Church.
Association - In God; Denomination - HOLY, just as God is HOLY!
Saints, let us pray for total church unity and for the “refreshing to come from the presence of the Lord," Amen (Acts 3).