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 | 1987-JUN: "Homosexuality" a Statement of Concern was rejected at the ABCUSA's Biennial Meeting in Pittsburgh, PA by a close vote of 408 to 471 with 71 abstentions. The document said that: "Scriptures repeatedly depict homosexuality as a social and moral evil." It called for for ministry "to those even within the church who are struggling with homosexual impulses." It concluded that "the unrepentant homosexual has no claim to full acceptance in the Christian community." Their statement does not differentiate between persons with a homosexual orientation who are sexually active and those who are celibate. |
| 1989-JUN: The General Board unanimously affirmed a "Resolution against Manifestations of Prejudice." It indicated: |
"...our opposition to manifestations of prejudices against persons because of their ethnic origin or race and persons because of their religion or sexual orientation regardless of our approval or disapproval of that orientation." 1
| 1991-JUN At their Biennial meeting in Charleston WV, the delegates approved
(1,124 to 539; 46 abstentions) an
anti-gay Statement of Concern. It:
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Their statement is unclear on whether ordination of only sexually active homosexuals is rejected, or whether ordination is banned for all persons with a homosexual orientation
They also more narrowly passed (927 to 877; 38 abstentions) a resolution asking for a study on human sexuality. A Statement of Concern was passed:
"We therefore call on the General Board of American Baptist Churches to appoint a task force which would begin a study process on the local levels (i.e., regions, associations and churches) for the purpose of providing material which can guide us in our personal and collective thinking and spiritual development of a Christian perspective on sexuality."
| 1992-JAN Nadean Bishop became the first openly lesbian person to be called to an ABCUSA congregation. It was at the University Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. | ||||||
| 1992-MAR The first ABCUSA church voted to bless the unions of same sex committed couples. It was the Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. | ||||||
| 1992-JUN An anti-gay resolution titled "Homosexuality and the
Church" was proposed by the West Virginia Convention.
It was narrowly defeated by the General Board (88 to 91; 2 abstentions). The
defeated resolution noted:
The resolution identified God’s plan:
It stated that sexually active homosexuals had access to:
By rejecting the motion, the ABCUSA upheld the Baptist traditions of soul liberty of its members and local church autonomy. The General Board also established a Commission on Human Sexuality Resources to identify "issues of concern" and to list resources for use by congregations. | ||||||
| 1992-OCT The first mail ballot of in the congregation's history was conducted among churches' board members. They approved an anti-gay "Resolution on Homosexuality" that states: "We affirm that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching". This statement was later passed by the General Board. | ||||||
| 1993 The Commission on Human Sexuality Resources determined that "congregations did not identify homosexuality as a priority concern." 2 | ||||||
| 1993-JUN: The General Board passed a resolution titled: "American Baptist Resolution
Calling for Dialogue on Human Sexuality" by a vote of 96 to 69 with 3
abstentions. It:
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| 1994-MAR Dr. Mark Crosby was denied ecclesiastical endorsement by the Committee on Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counselors. He is openly gay. | ||||||
| 1994-AUG The Columbus Baptist Association began the disfellowshipping process against the First Baptist Church of Granville, OH. It was a AWAB congregation. | ||||||
| 1994-SEP The American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest revoked the ordination of Susan Vanderburgh She is a lesbian. | ||||||
| 1994-DEC The Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church recommended the ordination of Randle Mixon. The American Baptist Churches of the West did not affirm the recommendation. He is openly gay. |
More recent activity
References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
- "Responses/actions pertaining to homosexuality," ABCUSA, at: http://www.abc-usa.org/ This is a PDF file.
- The Commission on Human Sexuality Resources of American Baptist Churches USA has a list of "Resources of American Baptist Churches USA" at: http://www.abc-usa.org/ Many of the resources contain sections on homosexuality.
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Home > Conflict > Homosexuality > Religious groups > Christian > ABC > here |
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Home > Religious info. > Basic > Marriage > Same-sex marriage > Menu > Christian > ABC > here |
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Home > "Hot" topics > Homosexuality > Same-sex marriage > Menu > Christian > ABC >> here |
Copyright 1999 to 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally written: 1999-NOV-28.
Latest update: 2008-JAN-15
Author: B.A. Robinson
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