LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention booted two Louisville churches for affiliating with a religious organization supporting LGBTQ employees.
Lyndon Baptist Church and St. Matthews Baptist Church affiliated with Kentucky Baptist Convention for over 90 years each. But, the churches also affiliate with an organization called the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which lifted its ban on hiring LGTBQ employees earlier this year.
At its annual meeting in Pikeville, Kentucky, KBC voted to sever ties with any churches across the state making financial contributions to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. KBC openly opposes gay marriage and believes homosexuality is a sin going against biblical scripture.
"Kentucky Baptist Convention is committed to biblical fidelity. Our messengers made a statement to remain committed to a biblical view of sexuality and churches that do not have that view were cut off," Curtis Woods said. Woods is an associate executive director for convention relations.
Pastor Jim Holladay at Lyndon Baptist Church believes the decision was very problematic, but not for reasons relating to homosexuality.
"In Baptist polity, every organization is what we call autonomous. We don't have a top-down or bottom-up hierarchy. So the conventions don't have any authority over the churches," Holladay said. "Their motion is really a motion based on their assumption that because we are supportive and stay connected with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, that somehow or another we have taken a stance when it comes to the welcoming and affirming issue in regards to LGBTQ issues."
Holladay said it troubles him KBC believes it can tell churches what they should or should not believe.
"I find that to be appalling. That the convention would assume they have a right to interpret what our church believes when our church has not made a statement about that one way or another."
Woods said KBC feels differently, calling it "an incorrect view." He said every church is autonomous.
"They have the right to interpret scripture based upon their ideas but as a convention, all of our churches have been committed to biblical immunity, which means we believe that genesis through revelation gives the opinion of God on issues of human sexuality," Woods said.
Pastor Holladay said Lyndon Baptist Church remains in the middle on LGBTQ issues, having not taken a stance. But, he said KBC is now forcing churches to choose.
"They used a pretty emotional wedge issue to do what they've wanted to do for twenty-something years," Holladay said.
Holladay said Lyndon Baptist Church aims to work with numerous partnerships.
"Our view is that the reconciling work of God, means that you attempt to reach out and include rather than figure out how you're going to exclude people," Holladay said.
He said KBC's decision will have some impact on his congregation.
"There is a lot of grief and sadness when you've been connected with a group of people for 98 years," Holladay said. "Part of what our congregation feels is we really, really hate the fact the convention has decided to go this route. We feel a loss of family in a sense, and historic ties."
But Holladay added Lyndon Baptist Church is "in a good spot" and the decision won't harm the ministry of the church.
St. Matthews Baptist Church also said KBC's decision to cut ties was "historic and disheartening."
Senior Pastor Greg Barr said "the Kentucky Baptist Convention had an opportunity to demonstrate to a divided nation that we do not have to agree on everything in order to love each other and partner together in carrying out the mission Jesus called us to. Unfortunately, the Convention chose a different course. Our church believes that unity and diversity of opinion can co-exist in the service of our Lord."
►Contact reporter Tyler Emery at temery@WHAS11.com. Follow her on Twitter (@TylerWHAS11) and Facebook.