Southern Baptists convene in Florida, celebrate their hateful agenda.

madfloridian

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Thu Nov-13-08 01:22 AM
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Southern Baptists convene in Florida, celebrate their hateful agenda.

I have never made a secret that I was raised in the Southern Baptist Church. My parents were what are called pillars of the church. They are gone now, but they would be distressed at the way the church has gone. My father was picking up vibes of what was happening before he became too ill to be an active deacon and became Deacon Emeritus. He was distressed even then at what he was seeing.

Hubby and I left the church in 2003 when they supported the Iraq invasion from the pulpit. Nobody gave a damn when we left. They were on their course with Bush as the leader chosen by God.

They were meeting with the Florida Baptists this week, and they were so proud of how they helped ram through their hate agenda with Amendment 2. We had been rallying in opposition to laws that these churches have been trying to get passed. We stood in front of the church with signs on a Sunday morning. The pastor, Jay Dennis, mentioned in the article....sent out a motorcycle gang to win us over to Christ.

Southern Baptist convene to discuss future, boast of their hate agenda.

About 1,550 delegates, or "messengers," attended the Lakeland meeting, which was held at the sprawling First Baptist Church at the Mall. The convention, which got under way Monday evening and concluded Tuesday night, featured soul-searching and calls to action to combat membership trends that have lost ground against an expanding state population.

Speaking to change

Speakers made several references to the recent elections, especially expressing gratitude at the passage of an amendment to the state constitution limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. At the Florida Baptist State Convention four years ago, the Rev. Jay Dennis, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Mall, proposed a resolution urging passage of such an amendment. A petition drive to put the amendment on the ballot ensued soon after.

In September, the convention's State Board of Missions, which functions as its board of directors, authorized a $25,000 contribution to the Yes2Marriage campaign, which promoted the amendment. John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer who headed Yes2Marriage, told messengers the convention is "the body most responsible" for passage of the amendment.

"There's no way we could have done this without Florida Baptists," he said.

The election of Barack Obama as president drew more guarded remarks. Speakers referred in general terms to a political climate less congenial to social conservative causes.

"We've heard a lot about change the last few weeks," Rice said on Monday. "I'm not speaking about any particular party. Both parties correctly judged the appetite of the American people for change. But sometimes the worst judgment of God is to give you exactly what you ask for."

The Florida Baptists did their job in getting this amendment through. And to the shame of Florida Democrats they really made little effort to fight back. Florida Democrats have an identity crisis.

Florida Baptists...what's next?

What's next is more of the same. Here is part of their agenda. Read their website carefully, as most Florida Republicans post there to pander to them.

Florida Baptists can be thankful that Amendment 2, the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, has passed.

Now what?

A constitutional amendment will not, in and of itself, strengthen marriages and families. Marriages in 2008, both new and established, must survive in the divorce culture that exists today. That culture also is prevalent in the church as Christian couples divorce at a rate comparable to nonbelievers and see their own adult children cohabitate with others.

Now what? Now is the time for Florida Baptist churches to cultivate God’s view, the biblical plan for marriage and family.

One paragraph really stuck out because it is pure indoctrination in hate and bigotry.

) Encourage parents to be sensitive to teachable moments and have meaningful, age-appropriate conversations with their children about God’s plan for marriage and family.

Discussion of Amendment 2 can facilitate conversation on what the Bible says about homosexuality, grace and forgiveness.

Children need assurances from parents that their marriage and family will endure for life. Seeing the marriages of their friend’s parents dissolve, children from Christian homes need guarantees that their own parents are committed to Biblical marriage for life.

There has been nothing to counteract their rhetoric since the opposition party, the Democrats, are fearful to take them on.

It is not that hard to talk to people here about it. We had two people ask us about the amendment. We talked to them on the premise of why did they think their church emails were saying to hurt another group of people so badly. We asked them why they would want to judge and deprive others of their rights.

Both listened, and were surprised to hear it put that simply. One later called to say he voted against it after that.

I often call myself a recovering Southern Baptist..because I am not over it yet. They anger me in their bigotry. I know these people, so many of them. I once taught the president of the Southern Baptist Seminary. I hate that he is teaching seminary students that women have few rights, that birth control is wrong, and is preaching bigotry against gays. It hurts more because I know so many of them from my church years and teaching.

It's sad they are proud of their bigotry.