Pastors Gather to Endorse Gay Marriage

[Marcia]

Another unbiblical gathering in Washington DC that included some Christian pastors, no less:

A diverse coalition of more than 100 clergy gathered in a Southeast Washington church yesterday to show their support for same-sex marriages in the District.


"We declare that our faith calls us to affirm marriage equality for loving, same-sex couples," said the Rev. Dennis Wiley, pastor of the Covenant Baptist Church, as he stood in the pulpit of his church before religious leaders from all eight wards of the city.



The clergy, who have formed a group called D.C. Clergy United for Marriage and Equality, plan to challenge the efforts of a more conservative group of pastors who are pushing for a referendum on same-sex marriage. Last month, the D.C. Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, and some council members plan to introduce a bill to allow the marriages to be performed in the District.

....The group supporting same-sex marriage -- composed of clergy from a wide range of Christian faiths and several rabbis -- was formed in response to a group of pastors led by Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville. Together with the Ministers Conference of Washington, D.C., and Vicinity, the more conservative pastors have formed the Stand Up for Marriage Coalition to lobby against the D.C. Council legislation on same-sex marriage.

Link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/06/02/ST2009060203931.html

 

[matt wade]

Another unbiblical gathering in Washington DC that included some Christian pastors, no less:

Included Christian pastors? I'm not so sure about that....

 

[SBCPreacher]

Not this pastor!

 

[Marcia]

Included Christian pastors? I'm not so sure about that....

Well, pastors who are pastors of professed Christian churches, such as Baptist. Baptist churches here are very liberal for the most part.

I do think Christians can deceive themselves in this. If we couldn't be deceived, the NT would not warn so much against deception. I think the deception is willing - no one is a "victim" of such deception. However, I also think many such Christians are professing Christians, or Christians in name only.

 

[Revmitchell]

"We declare that our faith calls us to affirm marriage equality for loving, same-sex couples," said the Rev. Dennis Wiley, pastor of the Covenant Baptist Church, as he stood in the pulpit of his church before religious leaders from all eight wards of the city.

Baptist in name only as they hold to Black Liberation Theology. No surprises Here

 

[annsni]

I went to the Covenant Baptist Church website and while they don't have a statement of beliefs, they have a mission statement:

God calls this church to be a progressive witness for Jesus Christ, a creative model of Christian worship, a loving example of Christian fellowship, and a humble servant to our sisters and brothers in the community, the nation, and the world in which we live. In word and deed, we are committed to continuing Jesus' ministry of spiritual and physical liberation to the disadvantaged, the weak, and the downtrodden. We understand that our role is both priestly and prophetic as we strive to heal personal hurts and pains, as well as challenge social structures and systems that oppress God's children wherever they may be, and that prevent them from realizing their full potential.

And the Gospel is ..... where??

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Should go over well in the "Jesus was a liberal" camp.

 

[donnA]

Baptist churches here are very liberal for the most part.

sounds like some BBers, they should be right on board with this.

 

[Marcia]

I went to the Covenant Baptist Church website and while they don't have a statement of beliefs, they have a mission statement:



And the Gospel is ..... where??

Interesting, Ann. Thanks for looking that up and posting it. It does sound like liberation theology, as Rev. Mitchell pointed out. That, combined with the social gospel

 

[OldRegular]

Included Christian pastors? I'm not so sure about that....

My sentiments exactly!

 

[Baptist in Richmond]

Should go over well in the "Jesus was a liberal" camp.

Well, he was a liberal, Bro. Curtis.....

I might support gay civil unions, but not gay marriage.

Regards,
BiR (who has over 1,200 miles on his '08 Cannondale roadie now)

 

[Marcia]

Well, he was a liberal, Bro. Curtis.....

I might support gay civil unions, but not gay marriage.

Regards,
BiR (who has over 1,200 miles on his '08 Cannondale roadie now)

But that's really a distinction without a difference. I think the gay unions gave all the rights of marriage or close to it.

Anyway, the argument for gay unions is pretty moot now, imo. Now that gay marriage is legal in some places, no one will settle for gay unions. And gay unions would and will lead to the legalization of gay marriage; having gay unions is just a step in the process.

 

[Baptist in Richmond]

But that's really a distinction without a difference. I think the gay unions gave all the rights of marriage or close to it.

Anyway, the argument for gay unions is pretty moot now, imo. Now that gay marriage is legal in some places, no one will settle for gay unions. And gay unions would and will lead to the legalization of gay marriage; having gay unions is just a step in the process.

There needs to be an accomodation for those who have chosen that lifestyle. In my industry, I come into contact with many many gay people. I have personally witnessed a man who was in a very-long-term relationship with his partner have to fight the parents/family over things that he had purchased with his now-deceased partner. If he were in a marriage, that would not have been possible.

Remember: gay Americans are Americans nonetheless. They have the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As long as my church doesn't have to perform marriages, I am okay with a civil union of some sort.

Regards Marcia, I still pray for you and your ministry daily,
BiR (in St. Louis)

 

[matt wade]

There needs to be an accomodation for those who have chosen that lifestyle.

Why? Why does there need to be an accomodation? Should we also accomodate people into beastality, incest, and pedophilia?

 

[Marcia]

There needs to be an accomodation for those who have chosen that lifestyle. In my industry, I come into contact with many many gay people. I have personally witnessed a man who was in a very-long-term relationship with his partner have to fight the parents/family over things that he had purchased with his now-deceased partner. If he were in a marriage, that would not have been possible.

I have to disagree, BiR. I have known many gay people - I even picked handfasting dates for lesbian witches! So it's not like I never came into contact with them. I knew some very nice gay people, in fact. I even knew some dying of AIDS. However, I cannot in any way endorse relationships that God so explicitly condemns. They choose that life and therefore should deal with the legal consequences such as above. Sympathy for their legal issues should not cause believers to deviate from how God views this.

Remember: gay Americans are Americans nonetheless. They have the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Right, they have the same right to marry someone of the opposite sex. We should not change laws to suit an activity/lifestyle that has historically never been marriage and is condemned by God. No country ever had same s*x marriage until the late 20th century. This is not a sign of progress but rather a sign of paganism - we see it described in Romans 1 as a devolution of man into paganism.

As long as my church doesn't have to perform marriages, I am okay with a civil union of some sort.

But this is sort of double standard, isn't it? You can endorse it outside your church but not in it. If gay unions are immoral in God's eyes, then how can a believer support an official endorsement of it in society? These are not secondary issues like drinking, gambling, etc.

Regards Marcia, I still pray for you and your ministry daily,

Thank you very much. This means a lot to me, especially even though we disagree on some things. :wavey:

 

[Baptist in Richmond]

Why? Why does there need to be an accomodation? Should we also accomodate people into beastality, incest, and pedophilia?

What in the world compelled you to interject these subjects into the discussion? These things never even entered into my mind.

That was a little disturbing......

BiR

 

[matt wade]

What in the world compelled you to interject these subjects into the discussion? These things never even entered into my mind.

That was a little disturbing......

BiR

They are all sins in the same area as homosexuality. You seem to think we should accomodate the sin of homosexuality, I was wondering if you also think we should accomodate other sins of a similar nature. It's a fair question. Looks like you'll avoid it...I'm sensing a trend with you.

 

[Alive in Christ]

"A diverse coalition of more than 100 clergy gathered in a Southeast Washington church yesterday to show their support for same-sex marriages in the District.


"We declare that our faith calls us to affirm marriage equality for loving, same-sex couples," said the Rev. Dennis Wiley, pastor of the Covenant Baptist Church, as he stood in the pulpit of his church before religious leaders from all eight wards of the city.



The clergy, who have formed a group called D.C. Clergy United for Marriage and Equality, plan to challenge the efforts of a more conservative group of pastors who are pushing for a referendum on same-sex marriage. Last month, the D.C. Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, and some council members plan to introduce a bill to allow the marriages to be performed in the District.

....The group supporting same-sex marriage -- composed of clergy from a wide range of Christian faiths and several rabbis -- was formed in response to a group of pastors led by Bishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville. Together with the Ministers Conference of Washington, D.C., and Vicinity, the more conservative pastors have formed the Stand Up for Marriage Coalition to lobby against the D.C. Council legislation on same-sex marriage."

May God have mercy concerning this wickedness. And may God open the eyes of these people engaging in this wickedness...at least those who have not been seared in their conscience to the point of no return.

 

[Alive in Christ]

BiR...

"There needs to be an accomodation for those who have chosen that lifestyle."

No, there shouldnt be.

If they want to live together, they can. If they want to spend the rest of their lives together, they can. If they want to act exactly like married people, they can. If they want to pretend that they are married, they have the freedom to do that. They have the freedom to do ALL of that.

But marriage is....

MAN + WOMAN

There is NTHER SITUATION that should be considered "marriage".

None. Zero. Nada.

 

[Alive in Christ]

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