Baptist convention
expels Charlotte church
for welcoming gays
By AP from the Web,
November 13, 2007
GREENSBORO, NC -- Delegates to
the Baptist State Convention have voted overwhelmingly to expel a Charlotte
church for welcoming gays and lesbians without trying to change them.
Myers Park Baptist Church became the first to be kicked out under rules passed
at last year's meeting. Those rules say any Baptist church that affirmed
or endorsed homosexual behavior would be considered not to be cooperating with
the convention.
The vote by the nearly 3,000 delegates came after two of the church's leaders
called on them to open their hearts to homosexuals who want to worship with them
and to respect local autonomy in interpreting the Bible.
But convention president Allan Blume told the meeting that the Bible calls on
believers to turn away from sin. He also suggested that Myers Park Baptist
was mostly interested in seeking publicity for its views, not in trying to work
within the Baptist State Convention.
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