"The Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board released guidelines last week stating that chaplains endorsed by NAMB 'will not conduct or attend a wedding ceremony for any same-sex couple, bless such a union or perform counseling in support of such a union, assist or support paid contractors or volunteers leading same-sex relational events, nor offer any kind of relationship training or retreat, on or off of a military installation, that would give the appearance of accepting the homosexual lifestyle or sexual wrongdoing.' The guidelines, updated in response to the military's repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and the U.S. Supreme Court's abolishment of the Defense of Marriage Act, further prevent Southern Baptist chaplains from participating in jointly-led worship services 'with a chaplain, contractor or volunteer who personally practices a homosexual lifestyle or affirms a homosexual lifestyle or such conduct.' ... The new guidelines require chaplains to minister in harmony with Article XVIII of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, which describes marriage as 'the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.' They remind SBC chaplains that 'responsible pastoral care will seek to offer repentance and forgiveness, help and healing and restoration' for the sexually immoral. ... The new guidelines formalize what NAMB leaders told chaplains in a 2012 memo after an Associated Press article was published about a 20-year Air Force chaplain who attended a same-sex wedding performed on his base." (Associated Baptist Press, Sept. 4, 2013) Comments are closed.
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