The two individuals were presented at different times to the messengers participating in the June 16–17 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. One did not say a word, the other spoke for about a minute. Neither was scheduled on the program. Yet the two represented the angst felt by many, if not most, gathered for this important annual meeting.
Barronelle Stutzman is a florist from Richland, Washington. When she declined to do floral arrangements for the wedding ceremony of long-time customer Robert Ingersoll, he sued her for discrimination. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined the case charging Stutzman was guilty of discrimination because she “declined to use her creative skills to beautify” the same-sex ceremony.
Stutzman’s religious conviction that same-sex “marriage” is wrong counted for nothing. That she employed homosexuals and had sold flowers to Ingersoll for more than a decade did not matter. That she referred him to another nearby florist did not matter. Washington’s Superior Court found Stutzman guilty and now she may lose her business as well as her home and her retirement.
Kelvin Cochran is from Atlanta where he served with distinction as a fireman both locally and nationally. He was the city’s fire chief when, with permission of the city, he wrote a Christian book designed to help men grow as responsible leaders in their homes and communities. In the book Cochran had a paragraph stating that homosexuality was wrong.
That statement got him fired. Atlanta’s mayor said Cochran could not lead a diversified fire department if he believed homosexuality was wrong. The fact that he had led effectively for years and done so without complaint counted for nothing.
Stutzman and Cochran both embodied what many messengers fear. As American culture moves away from traditional Christian values, those who base their conduct on biblical teachings rather than political correctness may become victims of the change.
Identifying with the Church
Commenting on a statement about same-sex “marriage” released by former SBC presidents, Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas, warned the day may be coming when identity with a Bible-believing church may be costly. He shared the story of a member of his church who was employed by a nationally recognized firm. When the employee declined to participate in homosexual-affirming events sponsored by the employer he was reprimanded. Now that reprimand may prevent the employee from getting a raise or a promotion.
For messengers gathered at the annual meeting, Stutzman, Cochran and Graham’s unnamed church member all illustrate the nation’s promise of religious liberty is fragile, perhaps even broken. Jehovah’s Witnesses can be excused from classrooms when the Pledge of Allegiance is said but a Bible-believing florist is convicted and fined when she declines to participate in a same-sex “marriage” ceremony. A nationally recognized fire chief is dismissed when he expresses in a book his religious conviction that homosexuality is wrong.
Speaking out
How long before speaking out against homosexuality — whether in the pulpit or on the street corner or in the work place — will be considered hate speech? It already is in some European countries. And in the United States at least one governmental entity — the city of Houston — attempted to subpoena the sermon notes of pastors who preached against homosexuality.
With only days before an expected ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on same-sex “marriage,” Southern Baptists encouraged one another to uphold biblical teachings about homosexuality and same-sex “marriage” regardless of what the court rules. Through sermons, statements and resolutions, Southern Baptists urged one another not to budge in their opposition to such practices.
At the same time, messengers were advised to protect themselves, their churches, enti-
ties and institutions through knowing the
law, adopting appropriate policies and practices and clearly communicating official positions.
While helpful and necessary for churches and related organizations, none of this helps people like Stutzman or Cochran who choose to live by their religious convictions in the public square as well as in the local church. These are the people who are on the front lines in the battle for religious liberty in America. These are the ones in primary peril in what many called the most serious threat to religious liberty since the nation’s founding.
How can courts rule that businesses must revise dress codes in order to accommodate headscarves for Muslim women or the Army must violate personal appearance guidelines for Sikh soldiers but deep, biblically based internal convictions of evangelical Christians about moral conduct find little or no protection at all?
Thankfully convention dialog was free of “gay bashing” that sometimes characterizes discussions about homosexuality. Instead messengers were urged to befriend gays, get to know them, build relationships that can support honest discussions, welcome them to church and other activities. Parents of gay children were urged to love their children, not condemn them.
No one wanted to blatantly discriminate against homosexuals. At the same time, concern about Christians being forced to participate in activities that implied consent to such conduct was everywhere. It was what some might call “a felt need.”
Perhaps that is why some messengers came to the meeting in Columbus in the first place. Registered messengers numbered 5,406 surpassing last year’s total of 5,295. Perhaps that is why an unusually large percentage of messengers stayed to the end to hear an hour-long panel discussion about preparing churches for the expected Supreme Court ruling.
That “felt need” may have accounted, in part, for the participation in the prayer for spiritual awakening evening service June 16. The crowd seemed to be the largest of the convention. And it was a real prayer service. For more than two hours Baptists prayed — often on their knees.
Spiritual experience
Describing a prayer service is almost impossible. Suffice it to say it was a special spiritual experience the likes of which few have ever seen at a convention. Messengers seemed to agree the only thing that can reverse the nation’s cultural drift away from God is another spiritual Great Awakening.
There were other important parts of the annual meeting. Racial reconciliation became an important topic through an Executive Committee report and a convention-adopted resolution. World evangelism was highlighted in a joint missions promotion service sponsored by the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board.
SBC President Ronnie Floyd deserves commendation for his presiding, his leadership and his vision that helped shape the annual meeting into what may prove to be a historical event.
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