More Baptist and Presbyterian Apostasy

Charisma News Service, April 28, 2003 edition
News Brief

Church Could be Expelled for Baptizing Gays

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Southern Baptist congregation in North Carolina is in hot water with denomination officials over the baptism of two gay men. McGill Baptist Church in Concord faces expulsion from the Cabarrus Baptist Association for the ceremony that took place last month, "The Charlotte Observer" reported.
Pastor Steve Ayers said many in the congregation knew the couple was gay when the baptism took place and that it was held because it's not up to him or the church to decide who deserves salvation. "I think salvation is between them and God," Ayers told the newspaper. "I'm not going to exclude anybody from God's kingdom. Our business is to love and follow His [Jesus'] example."

But Randy Wadford, missions director for the association of 78 churches, said baptism is only for those who agree to repent of their sins. In a letter sent to the church last week, the group said: "To allow individuals into the membership of a local church without evidence or testimony of true repentance is to condone the old lifestyle."

Meanwhile, an Ohio Presbyterian minister whose 2.5 million-member denomination convicted him of violating church law by marrying same-sex couples says he will continue performing the ceremonies, the Associated Press reported.

Earlier this month, Van Kuiken, 44, pastor of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, received a public rebuke from Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA) officials, who directed him to only marry a man to a woman. Van Kuiken was the first PCUSA minister to be tried on accusations of marrying homosexuals.