APOSTATE BAPTISTS AGREE TO START HIRING HOMOSEXUALS FOR MISSION SERVICE
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), a denomination which
splintered from the SBC in 1991 over theological differences, has agreed
to start hiring homosexuals for denominational staffing positions.
There are a number of churches that affiliate both with the CBF and the
SBC. The CBF will continue to take into consideration the sexual
orientation of some of its position hiring, but not all. The new hiring
policy was announced by the CBF on February 9.
The CBF has had a ban on hiring “practicing homosexuals for
approximately 18 years, but the policy that seemed scandalously liberal
by the standards of the turn of the century (because use of the word
“practicing” leaves room for celibate homosexuals) is now deemed not
liberal enough. Instead, the CBF governing body has stated that it will
“consider” the sexuality of proposed staff or missionaries, but unlike
the 18-year-old policy now replaced, it will not ban them from service.
The decision by the CBF follows on the heels of a two-year listening
tour called the “Illumination Project,” in which a committee formed by
the CBF traveled around the country to listen to Baptist churches and
determine what they felt was the best practice for the denomination. In
turn, the CBF committee created a 43-page document called Honoring Autonomy and Reflecting Fellowship,
which says, “[The committee] recognizes that the CBF will consider
human sexuality as one factor among many for some positions, including
field personnel, those who supervise field personnel and certain
ministry/missions leadership positions at CBF Global in Decatur.”
Effectively, this means that homosexuals may be hired by CBF at the
whim of those making the hiring decisions, with the previous explicit
prohibition against hiring practicing homosexuals now removed. According
to Bob Allen at Baptist News Global, this is because the Illumination Project Committee found “the
‘vast majority’ of CBF churches do not have policies explicitly
prohibiting employment on matters of human sexuality, and it maintained
that the new policy is consistent with that.”
The Illumination Project Committee found numerous LGBT
impastors serving CBF churches, and so the committee’s report claimed
the changes would be in keeping with the understanding on sexuality by
CBF churches. Instead of focusing on homosexuality, hiring decisions
will be based upon “celibacy in singleness or faithfulness in marriage.”
Conceivably, “faithful” homosexual couples would be eligible for
mission service.
Baptist News Global writes…
The policy expects CBF employees “to have
the highest moral character, displaying professionalism and a
commitment to the highest ethical standards.” That includes “acting with
integrity, being a faithful steward of resources, speaking truth in
love, embracing accountability, facilitating fairness, supporting and
encouraging peers, nurturing a community of respect, and establishing
collaborative relationships.”
Employees must “live out their
Christ-centered relationship both inside and outside the workplace,
serving as active members of their local church as well as through
service to their community.”
CBF Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter said the new policy shifts the focus from sexuality to Jesus.
“We are a Fellowship, a big tent of
faithful believers and autonomous, innovative churches in partnership,”
Paynter said. “While we do not agree on everything, we have shown
Baptists and others that we can come together in a relatively short
amount of time, focus on what unites us and come out of it poised for a
bright future.”
The Association of Welcoming and
Affirming Baptists called the new hiring policy “a step in the right
direction” but said it falls short of the threshold of “total
inclusivity.”
For these Baptists, moral character and commitment to ethical standards have nothing to do with sexuality.