AWAB Calls on the SBC to Recant Anti-Transgender Resolution
"I'm thankful that my own American Baptist faith is not hateful, unlike the fear expressed in the SBC's misguided resolution. For me, it's an issue of "What would Jesus do?" I believe Jesus would love and accept ALL His sheep, regardless of whether their sex-assignment at birth matches the gender identity of their soul." |
June 13, 2014
The Board and Staff of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB) are angered by the Southern Baptist Convention's resolution condemning the transgender community as particularly "fallen" and, if not repentant of their very nature, outside the fellowship of the church and communion with God. We are gravely concerned about the message this sends to transgender persons, a message that says "if you pray and give your life over to Christ you will be healed.” This is the same message that has been told to gay and lesbian people for decades. This practice has spawned the “Ex-Gay” ministry movement as well as the pseudo-psychology of reparative therapy. These practices have caused significant harm to individuals, their families and the churches that they are and have been a part of. The resolution on transgender people passed at the 2014 annual meeting of the SBC will surely spawn the same kinds of ministries and practices aimed at the Transgender Community. AWAB supports churches and communities of faith who welcome and affirm All of God's children regardless of sexual or gender identity. We seek to be a place where God's love is revealed in and through us, and where the command to "love your neighbor as yourself" includes all humanity, even those whom we do not understand or disagree with. Therefore, we call upon the Southern Baptist Convention to recant this resolution and to allow God's healing grace to be present in the life of the SBC.
I join AWAB and call on the SBC to Recant the Anti-Transgender Resolution!
|
