AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH OPENS FOR PHILADELPHIA GAYS
(Philadelphia-AP) -- American Baptist Pastor Jeri Williams
says in a perfect world she wouldn't have to set up a
congregation geared specifically toward gays and lesbians --
something she said God told her to do a year ago.
Williams and other church members of Drexel Hill Baptist
Church wanted to create a church where gays and lesbians were the
focus, where they could express themselves freely and be leaders.
The new congregation held its first service a week ago
Sunday, attracting 30 to 40 parishioners. Church leaders, who
plan to hold weekly services, say anyone is welcome, but the
services are geared toward gays, lesbians and transsexuals.
Michael Kevane, an organist at Drexel Hill, attended the
first Fusion service last week and said he felt a sense of
belonging he had not felt in other Baptist churches.
[ February 26, 2003, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: The Squire ]
News: American Baptist Church Opens for Philadelphia Gays
Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Cindy, Feb 10, 2003.
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Here's the contact information in case anyone is interested in reminding them that sins are responsible for nailing Christ to the cross. I suggest emailing them scripture that supports what you say.
http://www.abc-usa.org/direct/foundation.htm -
I think that GLBT-focused churches are a questionable step in the gradual process of ending the exculsion of homosexual Christians from full participation in their faith communities (as I think their pastor realizes). I think it is healthier to simply build an inclusive church, without focusing the ministiries on a particular people group.
Joshua -
"Man-centered, affirming" doctrine says "let everyone be a part of the body of Christ, putting off the old man is not necessary... God L O V E S you..."
But God says...
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. -
Send any complaints to the church itself. ABC churches are fully autonomous. The ABC/USA has a resolution in disagreement with this church.
Also, I seriously doubt if email complaints from non-ABC individuals would be all that well receive frankly.
Timothy Bonney, Pastor
First Baptist Church (ABC/USA)
Rushville, Indiana -
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Originally posted by JamesJ:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Also, I seriously doubt if email complaints from non-ABC individuals would be all that well receive frankly.Click to expand...
You'd hardly be open to the local Methodist pastor or Catholic Priest writing a letter to your church complaining about Baptism by immersion would you?
:D
Because of the local control of Baptist churches, we react rather differently to outside instruction than would more structured churches with Bishops, Elders, etc.
Timothy Bonney, Pastor
First Baptist Church (ABC/USA)
Rushville, IN -
I say good advice and Godly Wisdom should be listened to despite its source. I think one of the biggest problems most churches today face is that people don't listen to each other. Sadly this world has trained many people to be gods unto themselves. "Test all things, hold onto the good"
-Chris -
Homosexuality is a sin. The real difference between this sin and other sins is the way a part of our society denies that it is sin. Would the ABC or any other even super-liberal group open a church embracing the lifestyle of those practicing adultry? how about bestiality? To make a church to make sinners more comfortable in their sin is wrong.
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"Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." - Matthew 24:11
False prophets/false pastors preaching that what God calls detestable (an abomination) is now OK with God; that God has changed His mind, when God Himself says He does not change, is clearly a sign of the end times! Those who lead others astray will be held accountable by God's perfect righteousness.
Come Lord Jesus! -
John,
What I don't understand along those lines is - from a baptist perspective, there is less false teaching now than several hundred years ago. Sure, there are the false teachers who say homosexuality is a sin or that women should not be ordained (had to throw that in there :D ); but we all agree that false teachings like salvation through works/the Church, Christian support of slavery, Christian opposition to interracial marriage, etc. have been corrected. Even fundamentalist baptist churches are more "liberal" on these issues than what was normative for Christianity 50, 100, 500 years ago.
Joshua -
Joshua,
How can you deny that the Bible is absolutely clear that men having sex with men and women having sex with women is a sin? I can't see how you ignore this Biblical truth. Truth is not cultural. It applies to all people. -
Originally posted by AdoptedByGod:
I say good advice and Godly Wisdom should be listened to despite its source. I think one of the biggest problems most churches today face is that people don't listen to each other. Sadly this world has trained many people to be gods unto themselves. "Test all things, hold onto the good"
-ChrisClick to expand...
You are welcome to send the note but, they won't know you from Adam and are likely to consider the note to be Spam. Churches that choose to take controversial stands know they will be critisized.
Its amazing all the good news releases about ABC missions I've seen this week. But, its the one news release about one church in 6000 that is doing something controversial that always makes news discussions and news boards.
I'm not saying I agree with the church. I don't.
Timothy -
Originally posted by Rev. Joshua:
Christian support of slavery, Christian opposition to interracial marriage, etc. have been corrected. Even fundamentalist baptist churches are more "liberal" on these issues than what was normative for Christianity 50, 100, 500 years ago.
According to your thinking maybe if given enough time we who seem to have mellowed on some practices of the past will also accept homosexuality as a biblical lifestyle. Maybe so but don't hold your breath.
MurphClick to expand... -
Murph,
I'm not holding my breath - but it will happen. Even Southern Baptists are no longer bibilical literalists on issues of slavery, and women's rights. It'll happen with homosexuality as well.
Joshua -
Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. -
Originally posted by Rev. Joshua:
John,
Sure, there are the false teachers who say homosexuality is a sin or that women should not be ordained (had to throw that in there :D ); JoshuaClick to expand...
Gina -
Timothy,
I'm sure there are many Godly people within ABC. I havent written anyone yet, but if I do I'll try to find the specific church that is going gay. I agree that that one church has cost you guys a lot of bad press. I'd venture to say that it will probably do ABC alot more harm than good, unless ABC decides to cut them loose. Any word on if that's in the works?
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