Mississippi Convention severs ties with church

JACKSON, Miss. — A Mississippi church has been told it can no longer be a part of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

Northminster Baptist Church, a congregation in Jackson that was established in 1967 as a mission of Hinds County Baptist Association, was “found not to be in friendly cooperation with the convention” anymore, according to William Perkins, editor of The Baptist Record newspaper. He declined to give a reason, however, saying that the convention’s executive committee respected the autonomy of the local church.

In September 2016 the convention decided to stop receiving funds from the church. On July 24 convention leaders sent Northminster a letter saying they were severing ties.

The tensions that led to the decision reportedly stemmed from Northminster being listed as a “spiritual/church” resource in a guide for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth in Mississippi, according to Baptist News Global. Convention leaders reportedly asked for them to remove themselves from the guide, and the church declined. (TAB)