Baptist Group Bars Chaplains From Same-Sex Rituals

AP via ABC ^ | September 6, 2013 | BRETT BARROUQUERE

[don-o]

The Southern Baptist Convention, which provides the largest share of active-duty military chaplains, has barred members from taking part in weddings, counseling sessions and couples retreats for same-sex couples.

The North American Mission Board, an arm of the Nashville, Tenn.-based SBC, also prohibits chaplains from participating in any services that would appear to endorse or accept same-sex

[Coldwater Creek]

My nephew is a Baptist Navy chaplain. The only chaplain in Porto Rica.

[Coldwater Creek]

Hang on there Sweet Cheeks! I have been a So. Baptist for 72 years. All SBC churches are autonomous. There is No ruling order. Now blatantly go against scripture and you might be asked to leave.

[GeronL]

Yep, they could disassociate with you. And if they are the ones sponsoring your Chaplaincy, that could have an impact

[BillyBoy]

>> There is no arbitrator of who can be called a Baptist (look at the fakes like Westboro). <<

You are comparing apples to oranges. Westboro is certainly NOT a member of the SBC, and does not have any military chaplains (since they thank God when soliders die). So who is the arbitrator in the SBC that determines when a pastor is "going against scripture"?

>> Now blatantly go against scripture and you might be asked to leave. <<

Again, by WHO? A random member of SBC who thinks the pastor is going against scripture? How would that work? Random Baptist Christian in the military: I really think you should leave the SBC because you support gay marriage. Chaplin: No.

>> In the end the local congregation. <<

As has been previously pointed out on this thread, military chaplins are not under a local congregation.

[MayflowerMadam]

Well duh. What SBC minister would even think of participating?

[GeronL]

Apparently military Chaplains are sponsored or something by denominations. if that is the case then what happens when that certification is revoked?

According to Wiki: Military chaplains must be endorsed by a religious organization in order to serve on active duty

A military chaplain must be endorsed by a religious organization in order to serve on active duty. In the contemporary U.S. military, endorsement is a complex area and many different paths are available. This religious endorsement must be maintained throughout the chaplain's military service and can be withdrawn at any time for religious or disciplinary reasons by the religious body with which the chaplain is affiliated,[4][5] though provisions exist for exceptional cases.[6][7] A military chaplain's rank is based on years of service and promotion selection from the appropriate peer group. Each is identified in uniform both by rank and religious affiliation insignia that indicate as well the branch of service.

[Graybeard58]

You said it well, we (as Baptists) do not have a Pope, not even a governing board. Every member church is autonomous.

Of course any particular Baptist church is subject to be disfellowshipped, which rarely happens.

Thanks for the ping WKB.

[JLLH]

This is how it works: each SBC church sends what they call “messengers” to the SBC Convention each year. Those are people who have volunteered, or been asked to go to represent their church at the convention. Any messenger can bring up a problem within the SBC church body: i.e. other churches which are preaching non-truths (and please keep in mind, these would have to be a big departure from Scripture — i.e. gay marriage is fine and dandy with God and that body does not condemn it and even supports it; the pastor is gay or is having an affair with a member of the church (although if the congregation is doing its duty that issue has probably already been dealt with locally), etc.... The church can be voted out of the SBC: messengers sent from that church would not be seated, funds sent from that church would not be accepted. In essence, the church would be no longer welcome within the SBC. As another poster has pointed out here, this does not happen often — but it does happen when a church goes heretical in its preaching/practices. (I’m thinking we’ve had this convo before, no? Something regarding Boy Scouts?)

[JLLH]

Actually, they call it the NORTH American Missions Board now, but I well remember when it was the Home Mission Board and missions abroad was the Foreign Mission Board. I still call them by the old names.

[JLLH]

Well put!

[zerosix]

Yes, I remember the different names as well.