The BJCPA and the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America: Support for Gay Ordination

In February of 1993, February of 1995 and again in May of 1995, the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America (BPFNA) issued statements regarding homosexuality. The primary statement, issued in February 1995 stated in part:

"The BPFNA board will take an active role at denominational meetings to oppose any resolutions which assault the integrity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons and prevent them from becoming members of churches, being ordained, being credentialed for chaplaincy and pastoral counseling and being employed in denominational structures." (emphasis ours) (Attachment 2, Board minutes, Feb. 9-11, 1995)

Even though the BPFNA has been identified by leading SBC "moderates" like Bob Terry, 20 year editor of the Missouri Baptist Word and Way, as "a fringe movement among Southern Baptists," (Word and Way, March 9, 1995, p. 2) numerous BJCPA staff and board members have served on the board of directors and advisory board of the BPFNA. Serving on the boards of the BPFNA since the organization issued its first statement on homosexuality in 1993 include:

• James Dunn, Executive Director, BJCPA

• Larry Chesser, Staff member, BJCPA

• Pat Ayres, board member, BJCPA and former moderator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

• Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler, board member, BJCPA and former moderator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

• Jeanette Holt, former staff and board member, BJCPA and Associate Director, Alliance of Baptist

In a BPFNA promotional flyer, the BJCPA is listed as an organizational member of the Baptist Peace Fellowship

 BJCPA: A Congressional Lobby Working to Make Gay Legislation "Politically Salable"

Speaking at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s 1994 General Assembly, BJCPA General Counsel Brent Walker discussed proposed "federal gay rights legislation." According to Walker, the legislation would "amend Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to outlaw employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It’s already outlawed anyway on the basis of race, and creed, and religion, and gender, and several others - handicapped, national origin. But it will be amended to include sexual orientation."

The following is the remaining transcript of Walkers comments: "Now, we’ve been working very closely over the past several months with the Leadership Conference of Civil rights and a number of religious and gay and lesbian groups on this bill. The Baptist Joint Committee does not take a position on the advisability of the Bill - on the merits of the Bill. We do take a position, though, on the need that we see to exempt churches and religious organizations from having to comply with this provision if it violates the religious beliefs and tenets of the church. And it makes sense. I mean, If you’re against this bill, if you’re against this extension of civil rights in this way, then you would applaud the exemption because you don’t want churches having to live up to something you don’t like in the first place. If you’re in favor of the bill, you think that gays and lesbians ought to have the same rights as everybody else in the marketplace of employment, then you would applaud the exemption too, because it’s going to make it politically more salable. I mean, it's going to have a hard enough time to pass in the first place. But if you don’t have a broad base carve-out in there for churches and religious organizations, it’s probably doomed politically. So, which ever side of the issue you come out on, you ought to be in favor of the religious exemption from this bill." (emphasis ours) (For more information see "defense" section VI)

BJCPA and Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU):

Advocates for Homosexual Behavior

Numerous staff and board members of the BJCPA have served in official positions of AU over the near 50-year relationship between the two organizations. Currently, BJCPA Executive Director James Dunn series as a trustee and BJCPA General counsel Brent Walker serves on the 125 member governing board. In a workshop at AU’s 1994 National Conference, AU staffer Bunnie Riedel listed 11 top church/state issues for 1995. Number four on the list was the need to combat Religious Right opposition to "promoting homosexuality" and "homosexual issues."

AU Executive Director, Barry Lynn, states that he finds "no fault with such a theological stance" as thanking God for the "diversity" that he created, "making us male and female, black, white, gay and straight." (emphasis ours) (church and State, December, 1994, p. 21) (For more information see "defense" section VII)

Both the BJCPA and AU played a leadership role in the How to Win Manual. See BJCPA and the "How to Win" Manual

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