Disagreement over the hiring of two married lesbian co-pastors by a Washington, D.C. congregation has led to the severing of the relationship between the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC).
The historic Calvary Baptist Church announced a unanimous vote calling Sally Sarratt and Maria Swearingen as co-pastors in January of 2017. A theologically progressive and activist congregation, Calvary officially severed its connection to the SBC in 2012, claiming that foundational distinctives of the larger body had been lost.
But Calvary, which affiliates with multiple regional and national Baptist organizations, remained connected to the local DCBC, which by extension was connected to the wider SBC. That led the SBC Executive Committee (EC) to give the DCBC 90 days to dismiss from its fellowship churches that affirm homosexual behavior.
Baptist churches operate with a congregational polity and cannot be directly compelled into compliance by a denomination hierarchy, but their relational fellowship with other churches can be jeopardized.
David Roach at Baptist Press has more:
At its Feb. 19-20 meeting in Nashville, the EC adopted a recommendation granting the DCBC 90 days to “secure” the “removal of any churches from its fellowship that have demonstrated a faith or practice affirming, approving or endorsing homosexual behavior.” If such churches remained in friendly cooperation with the DCBC after May 20, the EC stated, the DCBC would lose its authorization “to receive and disburse Cooperative Program and other SBC contributions.”
It remains to be seen how much effect the move will have on congregations. Currently 153 congregations affiliate with the DCBC, but according to SBC interim Executive Committee President D. August Boto, only eight DC churches support SBC work through financial gifts directed through the DCBC. Numerous other SBC-affiliated churches within the District of Columbia are likewise not affiliated with the DCBC.
Calvary Baptist Church has a relatively small congregation, claiming fewer than 300 active members. The church has hosted liberal events for some time, especially regarding sexuality.
In addition to hosting the Human Rights Campaign’s Clergy Call gathering — which brings LGBT-affirming clergy to the nation’s capital to lobby lawmakers — Calvary made news by naming transgender pastor Allyson Robinson as an interim leader following the departure of Senior Pastor Amy Butler to lead Riverside Church in New York City. Differences between Calvary and the SBC go beyond human sexuality: Sarratt previously served as a part-time associate minister at a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Greenville, South Carolina. The church has also hosted organizations uniquely critical of Israel.
Comment by Scott on May 24, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Methodists need to learn a lesson from the SBC. This is what it takes to keep a denomination scriptural.
Comment by C on May 26, 2018 at 1:03 pm
I am a Methodist and I agree.
Comment by William on May 24, 2018 at 6:48 pm
It’s certainly Scriptural to flee from evil, to not associate with those engaged in evil. Of course, repentance, conversion, and salvation is the hope of God for all sinners. That’s the meaning and intent of the UMC open doors, open hearts, and open minds slogan. There seems to be a number of Protestant church leaders and clergy in need of repentance and conversion now days.
Comment by John Smith on May 29, 2018 at 6:34 am
Unfortunately it became Open Doors-as people headed to the exits, Open Hearts-to allow entrance off all behaviors, and Empty Minds-as there no longer was the presence of God. If nothing is evil, if nothing is wrong, from what does one call others to repent of, to convert to and be saved from?
Comment by Judy Bailey on July 14, 2018 at 1:29 am
John Smith you have nailed it! The sooner you can remove yourself from the presence of evil and unrepentance the better off you will be. The UMC has been in this mess for 46 years while it was allowed
to fester and erupted and spilled its vile. Pray for courage to stand firm and rebuke it in the name of Jesus.
Comment by Joan Sibbald on May 26, 2018 at 8:37 am
Homosexual sexual contact is unnatural, despicable, perversion and an abomination. Any questions callGod. He’s in the Book!
Comment by Chris McGee on August 22, 2018 at 10:08 am
This is why I choose to be Southern Baptist, not because I was raised that way or because it is the most convenient church to attend, but because this denomination still stands foursquare on the Bible as literal truth and as the only authority for Doctrine.
Comment by Sonia Dotson on April 4, 2019 at 8:55 am
Why do we as IN the Body OF Christ not concern ourselves 1st to offend GOD? Why show 1st priority to man? The reverent acknowledgment of the power & authority that GOD IS should reign in every passion, desire, weakness or lust. I speak not to or about the unsaved but those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ by God’s grace. We act as if the freedom n liberty to which we have been called is not possible without first being reprobate in every past din without judgment. Do believers no longer read the HOLY WORD OF GOD but concern themselves alone with not offending man? It is no denomination or building that saved and holds it is the Holy Spirit of God by the blood of the Christ. Repentance at acknowledging personal sin before a HOLY eternal GOD. I was bought by the blood of Christ so my life is no longer mine, i have no right or will of my won to do as I wish but yo Live from God’s grave a life of sacrificial obedience. Sacrificing every self willed desire n passion to the obedient live of GOD. I am truly saddened that THE WORD is not loved by those called ELDERS. They cannot distinguish between light n dark, holy and ungodly.