Be It Resolved

Just as I was getting started on my career as a Southern Baptist pastor in 1995, our denomination celebrated its 150th anniversary by taking a bold step at its annual convention. Delegates ratified a resolution that officially apologized for Southern Baptist participation in the historical evils of slavery and segregation.

This laudable (if somewhat tardy) stand came to mind last week when the California Supreme Court overturned a law prohibiting same-sex marriage, almost certainly igniting a fresh battle with the religious right. No one knows when such battles will end, but I have a sneaking suspicion that sometime between now and the 300th anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention, a new resolution will be needed that apologizes to the gay community for past sins. In anticipation of this need, I offer the following as a first draft:

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WHEREAS, Since its founding in 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention has been an effective instrument of God in missions, evangelism, and social ministry, albeit with a few missteps along the way regarding our African-American brothers and sisters, women, and other folk like that; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that Jesus was the sort of fellow who welcomed lepers, tax collectors, and the aforementioned women into his presence with open arms (Matthew 9:10), and that he was criticized as a drunkard and friend of sinners rather than as some sort of “stuffed shirt” (Luke 7:34); and

WHEREAS, We have learned from hard experience that, on occasion, the “plain teaching” of Scripture can be used to justify some pretty lousy positions, and that it is entirely possible that Moses and the Apostle Paul did not have in mind, say, a modern, loving relationships between gay persons who just want to be recognized as a family like the rest of us; and

WHEREAS, Our relationship to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters has been hindered by our efforts to deny them “special rights” like access to health benefits and hospital visitation privileges; and

WHEREAS, Many of our Baptist forbears made numerous “less than kind” public statements about these same brothers and sisters (to say nothing of some of the stuff we wrote on picket signs);

Be it RESOLVED, That we apologize to all gay, lesbian, and transgender people everywhere for condoning and/or perpetuating individual and systemic bigotry in our lifetime; and we genuinely repent of any bigotry of which we have been guilty, whether consciously (Psalm 19:13) or unconsciously (Leviticus 4:27).

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Of course, I may be jumping the gun a bit here. But it never hurts to be prepared.