News: Tenn. Baptists, Gays Clash Over Ordinance

I can actually see both sides of this equation. I don't think anyone should be discriminated, but I'm by no means supporting the gays. They are wrong, and if they don't get saved, they will be in a devil's hell. I also think the SBC should let everyone know that these people should also not get preferential treatment. Maybe the Convention could be moved to a smaller town. Anyway, there is only one answer, Salvation for the sinneers. Rick Sr.

 

Rick,

You are 100% on the money regarding this issue. No one should be discriminated against in the job or housing market. However, there should not be some special category of consideration with respect to one's chosen mode of sexual expression. Those who consider themselves to be homosexual are covered by the same equal employment and fair housing laws as those who do not consider themselves to be homosexual. This politically correct idea that we have to have special laws to protect every group with an agenda to simply crazy. As far as I know we already have laws that make it illegal to discriminate against anyone with respect to employment or housing (this large group of "anyone" includes people who claim to be homosexual as well as those who do not claim to be such).

The SBC is correct to point out the foolishness of the government and corporate America for falling into the fallacy that our existing laws are not "good enough" to protect everyone. We do not need more laws we need to have the ones already on the books enforced. However, I don't think that the SBC should look for a smaller or different city to host its annual gathering.

[ January 11, 2003, 05:08 AM: Message edited by: BibleboyII ]

 

along with the words sexual orientation, perhaps they should also expand religon to read not to dixcriminate against Christians, as we are without a doubt being discriminated against

 

Religion, which IS undisputably a lifestyle CHOICE, is already given protection.

Perhaps government bodies should eliminate it from special protection???????

 

I look at it like this, if I own an apartment complex or house and want to rent it out, I should have a say into who I let rent from there, wihtout regards to race, sexual preference or whatever. If I don't want you to rent then I want have you sign a lease.

The same as if I own a business if I don't like I shouldn't have to hire you, I don;t care if you are gay, white or whatever the case.

Bravo to the SBC!!!! I hope they follow through.

 

I wonder where the gay Tennessee baptists are on this issue .

Joshua

 

I never knew there was such a thing as a Tenn baptist gay. I do hope you are trying to be funny here.

 

jonathanbensaul,

If Christians are given protection, it is of the general sort ID'd by BibleboyII above (actually, I understand it, he is mistaken, I don't think there is general protection by race, etc., it is specified). It is not a specific protection. If it is enough for Christians why would it not be so for homosexuals?

[ January 11, 2003, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: fromtheright ]

 

Not in the SBC that's for sure unless they are still in the closet. As to the question of whether Joshua was trying to be funny, the answer is no but the tenn gays are.
Murph

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A proposed Nashville ordinance validating the homosexual lifestyle is troubling Southern Baptist Convention officials charged with the responsibility of recommending convention sites for the SBC annual meeting.

Jack Wilkerson, vice president for business and finance of the SBC Executive Committee, formally stated his concerns in correspondence Jan. 8 with officials of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"I have personally worked to convey my belief that Nashville is a family friendly community and one which would provide a welcoming environment for our messengers and families attending the SBC annual meeting scheduled for Nashville in 2005," Wilkerson told Baptist Press.

"The Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau provided excellent support in that effort, and the mayor's office also was extremely supportive, with Mayor Purcell having personally attended the news conference announcing the Executive Committee recommendation of Nashville to the convention. I would hate to see the council adopt this pro- homosexual amendment undercutting our team effort and diminishing Nashville's national reputation as pro-family."

"We have, in past years, convened the Southern Baptist Convention in cities where every lifestyle is embraced as 'normal,'" Wilkerson wrote in his letter to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, "but our constituents are telling us today that they do not want to meet in cities where our meeting has to constantly deal with these issues."

If undertaken, a formal initiative to move the 2005 SBC annual meeting from Nashville would have to begin with the SBC Executive Committee, an 81-member body which meets twice yearly in Nashville. If recommended by the Executive Committee, the move would require approval by messengers during an SBC annual meeting.

http://bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=15013

 

For the record, clauses prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation may sound like it's just protecting gays, but it is in fact protecting all people.

For example, if I were a hair stylist and I applied at a shop where the owner was gay, I could not be turned down for the job because I was a heterosexual.

Or, hitting closer to home, I could not be denied a job if they preferred married folks and I wasn't married.

 

ftr You misunderstand. The current law specifically protects "race, religion, sex..."
Religious people are directly and specifically protected, it is not some generality. And religion is a "Choice."

Also, for the record, the sponsoring Councillor is a grad of Vanderbilt Divinity School and an ordained Southern Baptist cleric.

 

One could argue that discrimination based on sexuality falls under discrimination based on sex -- the sex of a person and his or her sexual object choice . . . .

 

Would this anti-discriminatory law not mandate that a Christian School must hire a homosexual teacher?

 

Places of worship, clubs, and religious educational facilities are generally excepted from such statutes. For example, boy scouts are allowed to bar girls from joining, even though the law forbids discrimination based on gender. The KKK can forbid membership to non-whites, etc.

[ January 16, 2003, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

As For Tn. Baptist gays, there aren't any. There may be gays that call themselves Tn. Baptists, But they are not truly a Baptist from Tn. Just thought I'd let Joshua know. Rick Sr.

 

Rick, I'm sure that there were good Tennessee baptists who said the same in the fifties about the baptists who attended integrated churches.

Joshua

 

Hate the sin..
Love the sinner.
Would Jesus turn anyone away? I would definately say that we shouldnt discriminate look down upon or hate any human soul. But at the same time you dont have to go as far as to say that you agree with there choices or the way they live thier life. Wouldnt it be in the best interest to a gay person to live in the same apartment complex as a born again Christian, so that they could view of a person living for Christ? Or should they only live in a complex full of homosexual people?

In Christ,
Hailey