American Baptist College Defends Invitation to Lesbian Pastor

Forrest Harris

“The American Baptist College is defending its invitation to an openly lesbian United Church of Christ minister, asserting that Christians are making an ‘idol’ of the Bible. ‘It’s sad that people use religion and idolatry of the Bible to demoralize same-gender-loving people,’ American Baptist College President Forrest Harris told The Tennessean on Wednesday. The publication then asked that he clarify his use of the phrase ‘idolatry of the Bible.’ ‘When people say [the Bible] is synonymous with God and the truth,’ Harris responded. ‘We can’t be guided and dictated by a first-century world view.’ The college had invited Yvette Flunder, a bishop at the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, Calif., to speak at its Garnett-Nabrit lecture series next week, which focuses on Christian leadership. The theme is ‘Ministry in Motion: Living Faith, Doing Justice.’ ... But after word of the invitation reached other pastors in Nashville, several denounced college administrators for their actions. Randy G. Vaughn of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church told local television station KMBT that he and other Baptist pastors from across the country will be present to protest Flunder’s appearance next week. ... ‘We don’t feel you have the right to live any way [you want] and be respected in the congregation of our faith. There is nothing holy about lesbianism as there is nothing holy about heterosexual adultery.’”

Christian News, Mar. 12, 2015

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