One-fifth of SBC motions concern homosexuality
___By Charlie Warren
___Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine
___NEW ORLEANS--One in five motions made during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting concerned homosexuality.
___The six motions related to homosexuality mainly were referred to SBC entities for
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TOUNG MARCUS SIMMONS relaxes while his parents, Mike and Beverly Simmons, register as messengers to the 144th session of the Southern Baptist Convention last week. Mike Simmons is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill. (Photo by Van Payne)
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further consideration. However, one motion, calling on the SBC to ask President George W. Bush to proclaim Heterosexual Family Pride Month, was declared to be a resolution and died in committee.
___That motion/resolution was made by perennial SBC motion-maker Wiley Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park, Calif. His motion also called on the SBC to commend Bush for not declaring June Gay Pride Month as President Bill Clinton had done.
___Terri Brown of Cedar Crest Baptist Church in West Monroe, La., who identified herself as the mother of a gay son, asked that "the appropriate entity of the SBC develop ministry resources for those of us who for so long have suffered silently." Brown's motion was referred to the North American Mission Board.
___Tim Wilkins of Richland Creek Community Church in Wake Forest, N.C., requested SBC seminaries to "explore and implement methods to train students in reaching the homosexual for Christ and discipling them." His motion was referred to the seminaries.
___Randy Thomas of South Lake asked that "the appropriate entity of the convention" invite a former homosexual to give a testimony at next year's annual meeting. His motion was ruled out of order.
___Robert Stith of Carroll Baptist Church in South Lake asked the SBC to form a homosexuality task force to "inform, educate and encourage our people to be proactive and redemptive in reaching out to those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attractions." His motion was referred to Lifeway Christian Resources.
___Gary Rucker of Keenie Terrace Baptist Church, Largo, Fla., argued that since homosexuality is "a sinful decision," all SBC agencies "no longer refer to them as homosexuals as if they were so created, but as those who are living a homosexual lifestyle." His motion was ruled out of order.
___Aside from three motions attempting to amend the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, the balance of the 28 motions made from the convention floor concerned a variety of issues:
___ Loren Hutchinson of First Baptist Church in Lee's Summitt, Mo., asked the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission to oppose President Bush's plan for funding faith-based ministries. His motion was referred to the ERLC.
___ Richard Boswell of Decatur Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth requested appointment of a committee, including bivocational ministers, to explore programs to give assistance to bivocational ministers. The motion was referred to NAMB.
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DANIELLE KING, an Acteen from Waco, gives her testimony during a "Discover the Joy of Missions" portion of the annual national Woman's Missionary Union meeting. (Photo by Justin Veneman)
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___ William Blosch of Dunedin, Fla., asked NAMB to stop endorsing women as chaplains. His motion was referred to NAMB.
___ Keith Hynds of Birmingham, Ala., urged development of a program similar to Acteens for young men. His motion was referred to NAMB.
___ Rick Dominic of Fort Towson, Okla., asked NAMB and the International Mission Board to change their missionary appointment policies regarding divorce and remarriage to include those who were divorced for biblical reasons and remarried. The motion was referred to the two mission boards.
___ Tim Rogers of West Columbia, S.C., asked the Annuity Board to allow smaller churches to participate in the group insurance plan. His motion was referred to the Annuity Board.
___ Kevin Smith of Chattanooga, Tenn., requested financial aid for doctor of philosophy studies for African-Americans seeking careers in Southern Baptist life. His motion was referred to the seminaries.
___ Calvin Wittman of Wheat Ridge, Colo., asked the convention to study the feasibility of combining Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. His motion was referred to the seminaries.
___ Ron Wilson of Thousand Oaks, Calif., requested that trustees of the IMB reconsider their decision regarding the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message and require all current missionaries and staff to sign the statement. Wilson is a former IMB trustee. His motion was referred to the IMB.
___ Paul Blizard of Beckley, W.Va., asked LifeWay "to produce a video or video series on the history of the SBC with emphasis on the conservative resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention." His motion was referred to LifeWay.
___ Richard Powell of Fort Meyers, Fla., asked the Executive Committee to "document the history of each cooperating state convention's distribution of CP dollars year by year." His motion was referred to the Executive Committee.
___ Bill Tweeddale of Melbourne, Fla., requested that any college receiving endorsement from any entity of the convention "have a statement of inerrancy that will be signed by staff and trustees."
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