SBC homosexuality stance unchanged; media reports called erroneous

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) - The Southern Baptist Convention did not change its stance on homosexuality or homosexuals during its annual meeting in Nashville, SBC ethicist Richard Land said.

Some national media sources reported that Southern Baptists modified their stance on homosexuality during their June 21-22 sessions. "Baptists change approach on gays" was the headline in a front page article in the Nashville Tennessean. The article opened by suggesting the SBC "appears to have taken a step back from its hard-line stance on homosexuality."

The media speculation may have stemmed from such factors as messengers in Nashville dropping the SBC's boycott of The Disney Company and adopting a resolution calling on parents and churches to "investigate diligently the curricula, textbooks, and programs in our community schools," but stopping short of specifically calling on churches to investigate schools for pro-homosexual curricula or clubs.

Land said anyone who sees the actions on Disney and local education as indicating the SBC has altered its stance on homosexuality is mistaken.

Southern Baptists remain centered on the biblically based truth that people in the homosexual lifestyle, like anyone in sin, need God's grace to leave that lifestyle behind, said Land, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.