Stances of Faiths on GLBT Issues: Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with an estimated 19.9 million members, has fiercely discriminated against gay and lesbian people for more than a quarter-century. It condemns gay and lesbian people, whether they engage in same-sex relationships or not. It also condemns heterosexual people and institutions that acknowledge, accept or support gays and lesbians, and has criticized public schools that teach students about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.
The SBC has passed numerous resolutions on gay and lesbian issues since 1976, repeatedly asserting its commitment to preach, teach and politically organize against gay and lesbian people and their supporters. Unlike many Christian denominations that oppose discrimination against gay and lesbian people in civil society, the SBC has gone on record as supporting it.
It opposes marriage equality for same-sex couples and supports the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment. It prohibits congregations from blessing same-sex unions or ordaining gay and lesbian clergy. It is even opposed to the establishment of gay-straight alliances in schools and legislation that would ban discrimination in the workplace.
It has, to date, been silent on transgender members.
On Gay and Lesbian People
Rejecting all science to the contrary, the Southern Baptist Convention insists that people choose to be gay. One consequence of this position is that the church is unrestrained in its condemnation of gay and lesbian people.
In a 1996 "Resolution on a Christian Response to Homosexuality," the SBC declared that "even a desire to engage in a homosexual relationship is always sinful, impure, degrading, shameful, unnatural, indecent and perverted."
In 2000, the church equated homosexuality with adultery and pornography, passing a Baptist Faith and Message statement that declares, "In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose … all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality and pornography."
The SBC also calls on its members to "love the sinner but hate the sin" and try to turn gays and lesbians from their orientation. As the SBC website states:
"Christians can, and should, minister to homosexuals in a kind, yet firm manner. The church should never turn its back on homosexuals who are searching and seeking to heal the hurts within their lives. … While God hates the sinner in his sin, we are called to love the sinner and hate the sin. In doing so, Christ can work through our lives to touch those lost in a world of confusion and darkness."
Some SBC leaders have also been outspoken in their condemnation of public schools teaching their students about GLBT issues. At the denomination’s annual meeting in June 2005, a group of anti-gay delegates proposed a resolution that would have encouraged Southern Baptists to remove their children from their local public schools if the schools offered "curricula or programs that treat homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." Following protests from GLBT-rights activists including the Human Rights Campaign, the convention instead passed a somewhat milder resolution that simply encouraged parents to take action against schools that promoted tolerance. At the same meeting, the SBC also reiterated its opposition to safe schools programs and diversity training.
In 2003, the SBC also introduced a program to try to convince gays and lesbians that, by accepting Jesus Christ as their savior, they can find freedom from what SBC spokesman Richard Land called "this sinful, destructive lifestyle." They also have a history of encouraging gay and lesbian members to undergo reparative therapy — a controversial set of therapy techniques the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association and other similar professional organizations have judged to be unproven and potentially harmful.
The SBC is one of the few religious denominations that also condemn people and organizations that support gay, lesbian and bisexual people. For example, the SBC launched a boycott of the Walt Disney Co. in 1997 for its airing of the Ellen show, for offering domestic partner benefits for its employees and for allowing the annual "Gay Day" celebrations at Walt Disney World. The church also condemned former President Bill Clinton, who was raised a Southern Baptist, for barring discrimination against gay and lesbian employees in the federal government.
Marriage Rights for Same-Sex Couples
The church passed a resolution in June 2004 that calls upon Congress to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment, which, if approved, would alter the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman and possibly bar even basic protections to same-sex couples and their children. This followed an address to the convention by President George W. Bush via a live telecast. The SBC also has rallied members to lobby their representatives in Congress to support this legislation.
Other Forms of Discrimination
SBC leaders have condemned the:
- Prohibition of discrimination against gay and lesbian federal employees.
- Blessing of commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples.
Headquarters Location
If you would like to communicate with the Southern Baptist Convention, here is their mailing address:
The Southern Baptist Convention
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203-3699
