DALLAS — The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) Executive Board voted May 25 to refuse any financial contributions from a Dallas church that has ordained as deacons practicing homosexuals, and the board has asked the church to stop identifying itself as affiliated with the BGCT.
The 63–4 vote by the BGCT Executive Board regarding Royal Lane Baptist Church came one day after Dallas Baptist Association’s board voted to declare the church out of fellowship with the association. The BGCT board approved a motion from its executive committee acknowledging the autonomy of Royal Lane Baptist but also stating the BGCT “expresses its standards for churches identifying with the BGCT.”
“In ordaining practicing homosexuals as deacons, the actions of Royal Lane place the church outside the BGCT understanding of biblical and historic views on sexual ethics,” the motion said.
“Therefore, the executive committee recommends that the BGCT not accept any funds from Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas. We request that Royal Lane Baptist Church discontinue the publication of any materials that indicate that they affiliate with the BGCT. Funds received from Royal Lane Baptist Church since Jan. 1, 2010, will be returned to the church. This will also result in the disqualification for service of Royal Lane Baptist Church members on the BGCT staff and membership on boards and committees elected by the BGCT.”
Two BGCT employees are members of Royal Lane Baptist Church, and the board was told they plan to move their membership to another church. Doug Washington, a director of the BGCT Executive Board and deacon at Royal Lane, spoke against the motion.
(TAB)
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