SCHROON LAKE, NY (BP) – Messengers to the Baptist Convention of New York discussed proposals to affirm the biblical definitions of marriage and gender in the convention's constitution. Messengers also heard addresses from SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page and Todd Starnes of Fox News during their Sept. 25-27 sessions at Word of Life Conference Center in Schroon Lake, N.Y. In addition to 90 registered messengers, 21 guests were present for a total of 35 churches represented.
Two amendments to the BCNY constitution proposed by the convention's Executive Board dealt with the topics of gender and marriage. Both amendments will be voted on at the 2017 annual meeting. The first, which was amended by a messenger, would deem churches "not in cooperation with the Convention" if they "act to affirm, approve, endorse ... same-sex marriage, or any expression of marriage, including but not limited to civil unions, other than the uniting of one biological man and one biological woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime." The constitution already states churches are not in cooperation if they affirm, approve or endorse "homosexual behavior."
The second proposed amendment would add to the convention's affirmation of the Baptist Faith and Message the statement, "We also believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one's biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reported by the staff of the Baptist Convention of New York.