Church Put out of Group for Baptizing Gay Men

[CrimsonTide4]

Posted on Tue, Apr. 29, 2003

Concord church put out of Baptist group
Cabarrus association objects to congregation that baptized gay men
KEN GARFIELD AND JAIME LEVY
Staff Writers

A Concord church was kicked out of the Cabarrus Baptist Association Monday night for baptizing two gay men.

Leaders of the group of 81 Southern Baptist churches agreed in a closed meeting to sever ties with McGill Baptist because it welcomed into the church -- and into a life devoted to Christ -- a gay couple who share a Kannapolis home.

Of 268 messengers, 250 voted to withdraw McGill Baptist's membership. Eleven voted in favor of McGill. Seven abstained.

The Rev. Randy Wadford, the association's missions director, read a statement after the vote in which he said "the homosexual lifestyle is contrary to God's will and plan for mankind.... To allow individuals into the membership of a local church without evidence or testimony of true repentance is to condone the old lifestyle."

After the vote, the Rev. Steve Ayers of McGill Baptist said, "The kingdom of Christ is about love, about God's grace and mercy. When a church becomes so judgmental that it can't accept people into their fellowship, it is a sad, sad day."

Ayers said being kicked out of the association doesn't have many practical implications.

He said the 800-member church, which moved in November to Poplar Tent Road near Concord Mills Mall, contributed to the association's food and clothing ministry. He said they'll find a new way to help the needy.

Spiritually, though, the Cabarrus controversy illustrates the gulf that continues to divide churches that seek to embrace gays and those that characterize homosexuality as a sin.

Speaking to association leaders Monday on behalf of McGill Baptist, lifelong member Wanda Ritchie said it's "almost unthinkable" for the association to seek to control the membership policy of one of its churches. The church, she said, is for everyone.

But Cabarrus County commissioner Coy Privette, representing North Kannapolis Baptist, said homosexuality is "an anti-Biblical standard of conduct," and that being baptized means repenting of such sins.

Ayers said the two gay men, one in his 40s and the other in his 60s, have declined comment, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. As much as the men are upset over the furor, Ayers said they are glad to have found a church home.

They both attended worship Sunday. When it came time for worshippers to sign the register and mark whether they are members of McGill Baptist, one of the men wrote, "Oh yes."


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I heard about this on the radio this morning and while I do believe homosexuality is a sin, that does not mean HOMOSEXUALS should be kept out of the church and all of its ordinances. FORNICATORS are up in CHURCH every Sunday, baptized, singing, ushering, PREACHING , etc. and no one says a word about THAT SIN!! Yet they are saying something about homosexuals. THIS is what keeps folks OUT OF CHURCH and IN CLOSETS!!