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Southern Baptists Push Ex-Gay Ministries

Timothy Kincaid

June 15th, 2007

The Southern Baptist Convention has adopted a kinder gentler face to its efforts to deny gay men and women marriage, adoption rights, protection from employment and housing discrimination, and tracking of hate crimes. They now seek to provide a “loving response and ministry to those who face this kind of temptation.”

The Southern Baptist Convention has commissioned a Texas pastor to become its “national strategist for gender issues” — a position designed to promote “ex-gay” ministries to SBC congregations. [...]

Stith’s primary emphasis will be to model a ministry to gays that goes beyond condemnation. “When pastors and churches aren’t sure how to deal with it, they usually deal with it wrongly,” Stith said. “I understand because I was there; I did those things.”

I welcome the church’s efforts to tone down their demonizing and recrimination efforts.  However, I think that replacing them with wildly unsuccessful ex-gay ministries is not a solution that will in the long run prove effective.

Comments

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Louise
June 15th, 2007 | LINK

I am a Southern Baptist and have a problem with this resolution as I understand it.

I can understand having an EX-Gay ministry and try to help these people get their lives back how the Lord wants them to be.

But I do NOT condone having a ministry that ALLOWS people who are actively homosexual to be members of the church without them being subject to the same rules about a member who is committing a sin and not repenting as any other sinner.

A sin is a sin and each one should be treated the same, with no exclusions. If a person is a thief who is still stealing, they should be subject to church diciplinary measures. A person who is actively practicing homosexuality should be subject to the same dicipline. There should be NO exceptions made for ANY type of sin!

Timothy Kincaid
June 15th, 2007 | LINK

Louise,

I assume that this includes the sin of not loving your neighbor as yourself.

Lynelle
June 16th, 2007 | LINK

Susan,

I am with you, Sister. There is so much good that can come from an Ex-Gay revival in our churches. In my own church we have started a No Homo Left Behind program which combines Biblical teaching with strict reparative therapy. The difference is that we take our ministry to the parks, streets, bars, and trails where the homosexuals are actively on the hunt for an indiscriminate sexual partner. It is much safer for the members of our congregation to seek and save them on their own turf. They are not permitted into the church until they have completed the program and are 100% Gay-Free. PTL!

It isn’t easy working with the types of people. They chose a filthy lifestyle and getting them to turn their backs on it is no easy feet.

I am praying for you, Sister, and for your own church.

God Bless!

Lynelle Hair
http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/

Lynelle
June 16th, 2007 | LINK

Webmaster Warning: I don’t know if you realize it or not but there is a VERY gay-oriented ad showing a man in skimpy bathing suit in the side bar of this blog. I am so glad that my little girl wasn’t sitting beside me when that filth popped up.

God Bless!

Lynelle
http://baptistsforbrown2008.wordpress.com/

Alex
June 23rd, 2007 | LINK

Lynelle,

As a gay man, I am absolutely appalled by your insensitive and demeaning rhetoric against homosexuals. How dare you call yourself a Christian when you use judgmental words like “filthy” and support a program that allows individuals to worship God alongside you ONLY if they meet certain criteria? Our interpretations of the Bible are clearly different; if all sins are equal in the eyes of God, shouldn’t every member of your church undergo a program that makes them “100% sin-free” before entering? Also, I seriously doubt you know a single gay person. If you did, you would realize that “the homosexuals” care about far more than just sex. Do yourself a favor and actually try to dispel some of your unfounded prejudice.

Alex

Jim Burroway
June 24th, 2007 | LINK

Alex,

I think “Lynelle” is pulling your leg. Check out her web site, along with the commenters who appear to be in on the joke.

Alex
June 24th, 2007 | LINK

Jim,

You know, I had that suspicion. But I pressed on because I personally know some “Christians” who say very similar things. I really hope you’re right about her.

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