2003 to the year 2010:
SBC statements & actions about homosexuality

2009-JUN-23: TX: Fort Worth church kicked out of Southern Baptists: The Southern Baptist Convention has terminated its 127 year relationship with the Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. The reason is that the congregation is too lenient with GLBT members. The messengers (delegates) to the convention were not allowed to be seated.

Kathy Madeja, chairperson of the congregation's board of deacons said:

"We do not believe Broadway has taken any action which would justify its being deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. It is unfortunate that the Southern Baptist Convention decided otherwise and severed its affiliation with Broadway Baptist Church."

Earlier, the Rev. Jorene Taylor Swift, a Broadway minister, wrote a letter to the denomination's executive committee stating:

"We are not a church where homosexuality is a defining issue. While we extend hospitality to everyone -- including homosexuals -- we do not endorse, approve or affirm homosexual behavior." ₄

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2010-JUN-16: At their annual meeting in Orlando, FL, the SBC opposed the normalizaion of homosexuality in the U.S. The Baptist Standard -- the newsjournal of the Southern Baptists in Texas wrote:

"The resolutions that opposed the normalization of homosexuality in American society targeted an effort to repeal the U.S. military’s homosexual policy and the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act introduced in Congress.

The resolution on homosexuals in the military noted, 'The Bible describes homosexual behavior as both a contributing cause and a consequence of God’s judgment on nations and individuals.'

It cited the 1993 law that supports the current 'don’t ask, don’t tell' policy as stating no one has a constitutional right to serve in the armed forces.

'It is the seasoned judgment of most military leaders that normalizing the open presence of homosexuals in the military is incompatible with generating, strengthening and maintaining good discipline, unit cohesion and combat readiness,' it stressed.

Messengers affirmed 'the Bible’s declaration that homosexual behavior is intrinsically disordered and sinful' and noted 'the Bible’s promise of forgiveness, change and eternal life to all sinners—including those engaged in homosexual sin—who repent of sin and trust in the saving power of Jesus Christ.'

They went on record as opposing efforts to change current law to 'normalize the open presence of homosexuals in the armed forces.' They also deplored acts of violence related to homosexuality, expressed their 'pride in and support for all now serving in the United States armed forces' and commended 'loving, redemptive ministry to homosexuals.'

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act resolution characterized the proposed bill as 'granting such things as sexual orientation the same employment protections as gender and race, placing these immoral and aberrant behaviors on the same level as the immutable traits of gender and ancestry.'

'Homosexual persons are not our enemies but our neighbors whom we love and wish to see find the same forgiveness and freedom we have found in Christ,' the resolution said.

But it warned 'businesses with a religious character,' such as religious bookstores, publishers and parachurch ministries, would not be exempted from policies that would deny them the right to fire or refuse to hire employees based upon sexual orientation.' And the law could jeopardize the First Amendment’s protections of religious liberty, it added.

Messengers voted to express 'our profound opposition to ENDA and any similar legislation.' The resolution also put them on record as calling on the U.S. president and Congress to appoint and affirm 'only nominees to federal judicial positions who will protect foundational religious freedoms.'

The resolution reflects implications for the appointment of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court but does not directly oppose her nomination, Resolutions Committee leaders told reporters.

'The committee was concerned about homosexual rights and religious liberty. The Kagan nomination brings that into highlight,' said Barrett Duke, a staff member for the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and an adviser to the committee.

Specifically, some of Kagan’s writings indicate religious liberty rights should be trumped by homosexual rights, Duke explained.

Still, the committee did not directly speak to and oppose Kagan’s nomination, Moore said." ₅

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