Another One Bites The Dust

The Southern Baptist Convention is holding meetings in Louisville, Kentucky this week. Their theme is "Love Loud: Actions Speak Louder Than Words."

One of the first actions taken was to "boot out" the Broadway Baptist Church of Ft. Worth Texas, who were suspected of not following the will of the Convention in regard to homosexuality. From the Associated Baptist Press story:
The SBC changed its constitution in 1993 to exclude churches that are welcoming and affirming of gays. Previously the amendment was interpreted to apply only to churches that take some formal action, like ordaining or licensing a gay minister or conducting a ceremony to bless a same-sex union, but in 2006 an SBC-affiliated state convention with a similar policy said a church could be expelled for simply being perceived as affirming homosexual behavior.

So, regardless of what a church actually does or actually says about homosexuality, if it is perceived by someone else as affirming homosexual behavior, it can be considered ecclesiam non grata and excluded. Just in case you are wondering, the Texas church got in trouble for deciding to publish a church directory filled with candid shots or group shots of all of its church members, including some who are homosexual, instead of using the traditional pictures of family groups.

Reports indicate that Broadway will not be the only church booted out. The First Baptist Church of Decatur Georgia is in trouble for calling a female minister.

Actions do speak rather loudly, don't they?