Bellevue (Baptist) says 'you're out,' gay softball coach claims

A local women's softball coach said her team was banned from a Bellevue Baptist Church league after she acknowledged she is gay.

Jana J. Jacobson said church officials told her the "deviant" lifestyle would prevent the team from competing in Bellevue's adult women's softball league.

The coach said she was the only team member who attended meetings in preparation for the season that began June 8, and the only member questioned by Bellevue leadership. She wondered why her lifestyle mattered since they were playing softball.

"Finally, in my frustration, I said that I am going to be clear. I am gay, and I find all of this to be absurd and against the word of God as I know it," Jacobson said of a meeting with Bellevue officials.

Jim Barnwell, Bellevue's director of communications, said Tuesday afternoon the church has "no plans to comment on (Jacobson's story) at this time."

Bellevue was provided an outline of Jacobson's account of meetings with church officials. Barnwell also was asked whether the church's stance regarding homosexuality was part of the decision, if its account of the episode differed from Jacobson's and whether the player's acknowledgment played a part in the team not playing in Bellevue's league.

The church's decision does not appear to be illegal, said Richard Fields, a long-time local civil rights lawyer: "I don't think it's ever been challenged. This is the first time I've ever heard of anything like this."

In May, Jacobson's team, composed of straight and gay players, many of whom play one night a week in Bartlett, was looking for more games. They discovered Bellevue was allowing teams not associated with the Cordova church to join.

She registered, paid the entry fee and attended the preseason organizational meeting. This included outlines of league rules: no alcohol, smoking or cursing and no offensive terms on uniforms. She does not recall there being any morality clause.

Andy Beal, the church's minister for sports outreach, later contacted her seeking a followup meeting. Scheduling problems delayed the session until the day before the start of the season, Jacobson said.

During the meeting, Jacobson said another rule of "no public displays of affection" was added. Beal also told her they had received information about her lifestyle.

Jacobson, who says she's "very athletic in appearance," didn't want to lie, so she acknowledged she is gay.

"I continued with ... 'This is silly, we're simply here to play ball,'" the coach recounted in an e-mail about the events.

According to Jacobson, Scotty Shows, the church's recreation minister who also attended the second meeting, told her that because she was gay the team could not play. She was told that the team's participation would send a message to Bellevue members that the church condoned her lifestyle.

Bruce Gourley, executive director of the Baptist History and Heritage Society, said terms such as "deviant lifestyle" are common for Baptists opposing homosexuality.

"The issue of homosexuality and how Southern Baptists handle that is a huge issue with them. I haven't heard of a situation in a softball league, but it doesn't surprise me," said Gourley, who, according to his biography, holds a degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is online editor of Baptists Today.

He said odds are that there are homosexual members of Bellevue. They are tolerated "as long as they are quiet about it."

"A softball league seems like a minor playing field to take a stance," Gourley said, "but that is how seriously (Southern Baptists) believe about this issue."

Jacobson said she is not looking for the church league to rescind the decision, and wouldn't return anyway.

"This is totally insane, and the gay community of Memphis should protest it, as well as the straight community," he said. "None of us should have to put up with that."

I have no doubt the church would ban anyone with drinking problem or that committing adultery. Softball players represent the church and, thus, should be good examples for the congregation.

So if Mark Sanford wants to play in a church league you think their response would be, "Get you gone, Fornicator! Thou shalt not play on our softball team." Somehow I don't think so. And in any case, what steps are they taking to prevent that from happening? They questioning everyone who wants to play?

And, it's a cheap shot to compare Baptists in general to Fred Phelps.

Why? Where is Fred's attitude towards homosexuals any different than this church's?

That is the tactics liberals employ. Or do you want to plead ignorance on that one?

So every person in the world who disagrees with you is a liberal?

I doubt they ban all unrepentant sinners....

I have no doubt the church would ban anyone with drinking problem or that committing adultery. Softball players represent the church and, thus, should be good examples for the congregation.

Let me clear this up scripturally. As a Southern Baptist Pastor...this church has the potential (and I admit I do not know the facts) to be both right and wrong.

First...I agree with the first poster that it is unlikely they will ban all unrepentant sinners...but it is also unlikely they will know which guy out there is engaged in adultery or serial internet porn. The issue the woman is engaged in is a little more open. However...scripturally...this all rests on whether or not she confesses to be a Christian.

1Corinthians 5:11 - "But now I write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous person, or an idolater, or abusive person, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a person.(12)For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? (13)But those who are outside God will judge. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

The 5th chapter of 1st Corinthians is a great lesson for Christians living in sin. So...if this person (any person) is Christian...this Church is doing the right thing...even if they don't apply the lesson without prejudice.

Now...according to the SAME passage and the examples of Jesus...if this person is a "christian" (note the small "c"...meaning they are one of these I believe in god types...the earth is my mother and Jesus was a great fellow and I believe in him so I am a christian (so they really aren't)...then the Church is doing the absolutely WRONG thing according to the Scriptures.

"But those who are outside God will judge." We are not to judge those outside the Church. Period. Their problem is not their drug issue or homosexuality....but the fact they are without Christ. That is the Gospel.

Jesus ATE with sinners. Jesus associated...spent time with....hang around....SINNERS. The Church is certainly in the wrong if this person is just a random person who does not know better and they are doing this.

Jesus would have never done this. Paul would have never done this. Paul only enacted Church Discipline on those WITHIN the church. He NEVER enacted Church Discipline on those OUTSIDE the church because he was afraid of church people catching the cooties.

The self-righteousness of some church people astounds me. They want to be "fishers of men"...but they expect the fish to jump in the boat all filleted...gutted...and scaled...smelling like roses.

Let me begin by saying that I appreciate your thoughtful response to my question.

The issue the woman is engaged in is a little more open.

But would not have been had the organizers of the league not felt the need to ask her about her private life. Something that they don't seem to do for the other transgressions you mentioned.

I admit that I am not a Baptist. I was raised in another religion and currently practice a third. And I admit that I am troubled by any church or pastor who practice double standards where sin is concerned, and whose solution to sin is to ban the sinner from their presence. As you yourself pointed out, Jesus Christ lived with and sought out the sinners in order to bring redemption to them. He did not ban them from His presence. It would seem to me that the Christian thing to do would be to accept this person into the team and to try and bring about a change to her behavior through fellowship and example rather than just casting her out.

Jesus ATE with sinners. Jesus associated...spent time with....hang around....SINNERS.

That is different than letting an unrepentant represent Him. Those representing a church have an obligation to be of a higher moral standard, even if they are playing softball.

Jesus rebuked unrepentant sinners and told His apostles not to cast their pearls before sinners.

The body of Christ as a whole is doing a lousy job of rebuking sin and that is the primary reason for the rapid moral decline of our nation.

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