The Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee voted on Tuesday to expel four of its member churches, ousting two for policies that “affirm homosexual behavior” and the others for employing pastors who are convicted sex offenders. “The last year has revealed areas of weakness in our beloved convention of churches,” J.D. Greear, the S.B.C. president, said in a fiery opening address to the committee on Monday night in Nashville. “Fissures.
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Top leaders address divides in the denomination at the first in-person Executive Committee meeting in a year.
Kate Shellnutt| Image: Mark Humphrey / AP
At its first in-person meeting since the pandemic took off a year ago, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee decided to cut ties with two churches whose pastors had been convicted of sexual offenses as well as two LGBT-affirming churches. But it was leaders’ concerns over ongoing tensions within the denomination that stirred Southern Baptists during the two-day gathering at its Nashville headquarters.
“Southern Baptists in large part are ready to walk into the future. But we are spending a lot of time tolerating those who would rip us apart,” said SBC president and Executive Committee member J. D. Greear during remarks Monday night. “Brothers, let’s just call it: These things are demonic.”
Southern Baptists oust St. Matthews church over LGBTQ inclusion Share Updated: 5:52 PM EST Feb 23, 2021 WLKY Digital Team
TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE Share Updated: 5:52 PM EST Feb 23, 2021 WLKY Digital Team The Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee voted Tuesday to oust four of its churches one of which is in St. Matthews.St. Matthews Baptist Church was one of two churches expelled over having policies deemed to be too inclusive of LGBTQ people. We take no pleasure in recommending that a church is not in friendly cooperation with the convention,” Credentials Committee Chairman Mike Lawson said in a statement to Baptist Press. “We would like nothing more than for all our churches to be in harmony on such vital issues. But when the available information shows clearly that we are not, it is necessary to take action.The St. Matthews church lost its affiliation with the Kentucky Baptist Convention in 2018 for