American Baptist church ousted for affirming gays

FLINT, Mich. — On Aug. 29, Woodside Church in Flint, Mich., became the first American Baptist congregation in that state to be disaffiliated by its local “sister churches” because of its stance on homosexuality. The North Area Baptist Association, a 10-county group of Baptist congregations belonging to the American Baptist Churches USA, voted 18–3 to break ties with the church because of its acceptance of gays. According to church leaders, Woodside will remain a Baptist congregation, although the 275-member church might have to join with a Baptist association in a different state.

The showdown over homosexuality has been brewing for several months. In May, Woodside decided to join the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), a pro-gay organization. That act made some of the convention’s more conservative churches begin the process of disassociation. AWAB has about 55 member congregations nationwide. Member congregations publicly endorse all church members “without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity” and “have joined together to advocate for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons within Baptist communities of faith,” according to the group’s Web site.  (TAB)