WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP)
Jul 2 2009, 4:04 PM |
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A youth choir from a Texas church the Southern Baptist Convention cut
ties with because it didn't adhere to the denomination's stance on
homosexuals has been told they aren't welcome to participate in a
Kentucky Baptist mission program.
The Broadway Baptist Church Chapel Choir, made up of
high-schoolers, was informed Monday that it was "uninvited" to
participate in the University of the Cumberlands' Mountain Outreach
program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
The Southern Baptist Convention voted during its national
meeting in Louisville last week to sever ties with Broadway Baptist
Church of Fort Worth, Texas, because it said the church did not adhere
to the language in the denomination's constitution calling for churches
not to "approve or endorse homosexual behavior."
The church drew criticism from some Southern Baptists after
gay member couples asked that their portraits appear in a church
directory. The church later published a directory without the family
portraits.
University of the Cumberlands spokeswoman Daphne Baird said
Thursday officials at the school in Williamsburg, Ky., declined to
comment.
The youths "will be disappointed about this cancellation, but
they will be glad to know we have come up with an alternative plan,"
said the Rev. Brent Beasley, Broadway's new pastor, who began work
Wednesday and will preach his first sermon Sunday.
"All these kids want to do is praise God with their singing
and serve God by helping those in poverty. We're not going to let
denominational politics keep them from doing this good work."
Instead of going to Kentucky, the choir of 25 teenagers will leave Friday for First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn.
They will stay in the church's gymnasium and were scheduled to
work with Habitat for Humanity, Mission Encounter and Helping Hands,
leaders of the churches said.
Fran Patterson, the youth minister at Broadway, said students
are disappointed but the group is looking forward to completing its
weeklong mission work.
"I've hyped (the mission trip) up since February, but they'll
be OK," Patterson said. "As long as they are helping someone and, as we
say, being Jesus to people, they'll be OK."
First Baptist Church in Nashville is also affiliated with the
Southern Baptist Convention. But First Baptist's senior pastor, the
Rev. Frank R. Lewis, told the Star-Telegram he didn't hesitate when he
heard that the choir needed a place to stay.
"One of the things that most Christian congregations believe
is the opportunity to give hospitality to traveling Christian groups.
This goes back to the days of the New Testament," Lewis said.
The University of the Cumberlands has been sued by a
gay-rights group after the school expelled a gay student for posting
comments about his sexual orientation and dating life on the Internet.
The group argued that the school should not be eligible for $11 million
set aside by the state legislature for a new pharmacy school at the
university. The Kentucky Supreme Court announced this year it will hear
the case, brought by the Kentucky Fairness Alliance.
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