Chester Road Baptist Church in Sutton Coldfield recently became the first Baptist church near in Birmingham to affirm and offer same sex marriage. The church is a stones throw away from us and has been considered evangelical.
The minister has reported that the church have lost members and donations as a result of this. He believes the cost is worthwhile. It is worth considering two things. First that the church are prepared to pay the cost. Secondly, and unacknowledged by the minister is that many of his former members have paid a cost two as they have had to leave behind their home church and perhaps many years of connection.
Have we got that? Those moving to a liberal position are willing to both pay a cost themselves and to exact a cost from others in pursuit of an agenda. They are happy to lose money but also to split a church.That is their commitment to their cause.
This raises a question for us. What cost are we prepared to bear for what we believe in? I’m not suggesting a callous approach to unity and needs of a church family. However are we willing to make costly sacrifices for what we believe in, sacrifices we personally carry? Are we willing to put truth and love ahead of church size and wealth? Would we be willing to say “no, a line had been crossed” if that means losing a job or saying no to a position for those who work in churches? Would we be willing to leave a church that intentionally departed from the Gospel and God’s word.
Baptist Union churches, have a particular challenge that this decision highlights. Churches associate within the BU and their local regional association. This is different to Anglican and Presbyterian polity. The church is autonomous, independent and choose to associate with, to have fellowship with the other churches.
The official BU position is that ministers must commit to marriage between one man and one woman or be celibate. At the same time, each church is free to make its own decision on whether to affirm and offer same sex marriage.
On the surface that looks like the situation remains autonomous. A church can freely choose their position. However what it really amounts to is an opt out for faithful Biblical churches but they have lost their autonomy because they must now recognize and affirm churches choosing to go against God’s Word. Those churches by not caring about the main need of people to know God to receive forgiveness for sin and to be supported as they seek to walk for Christ are acting in an unloving manner.
The minister of a Baptist church will be required to attend meetings, to pray with, to sit in committees or accept recommendations from those they see as in error. Regional ministers are bound from sharing even their personal convictions as that would be seen as failing to support a church in its membership of the association. Again, that’s designed to look neutral but begins to force evangelicals out because they are not supported
What can Baptist churches and leaders who love Jesus, God’s Word and people do? Well first, I would encourage them to make clear their own beliefs. This needs to happen to protect the church and minister . It will mean ensuring that the Biblical position is clearly expressed in their constitution and policies. In Baptist policy terms it needs to be clear that this can only be changed with a super majority. The Constitution and policies also need to be clear about what happens pastorally should a member go against the policy
The church could initially follow an approach taken by Anglicans who have declared themselves in impaired communion with the bishop. In Baptist terms that will mean impaired association including explicitly that they do not recognize those churches that have departed from the Gospel. By the way,this should be true not just on one narrow issue but more widely.
Many Baptists will conclude over time that they cannot in good conscience remain in the denomination. Part of the cost will mean other Evangelicals thinking through what it means to support and provide for those individuals and churches
If you are in the North Birmingham area and directly aftected by the issues raised here, I would be happy to hear from you and discuss how we support you.
