|
Frequently Asked Questions about AWAB Membership
Is Your Church Thinking about Joining AWAB?
Some Questions and Answers
by Brenda J. Moulton,
edited by Chris A. Boisvert
In this section I will address some representative questions that
come from churches and individuals that are considering becoming a part of
the network of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists.
What is the official policy of the
American Baptist Churches regarding homosexuality?
Historically, AWAB has been
rooted in the ABC/USA. As a divers denomination the ABC/USA is a very diverse denomination, with a variety of beliefs on many
issues. Throughout our history we have struggled and often disagreed on many social issues including slavery,
the role of women in the church, abortion, and over the last decade homosexuality
and sexual orientation. Since the local American Baptist church
is autonomous, it is free to call its own pastors and make its own decisions in matters of faith and practice.
Resolutions and policy statements passed at the regional and national level are informative, but not binding on
the local church. In 1992 the General Board of the ABCUSA defeated a resolution by direct vote and later passed
by mail ballot a similar statement reading, "We affirm that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible
with Christian teaching." In 1993 the General Board passed a subsequent resolution "Calling for Dialogue
on Human Sexuality" which acknowledges "a variety of understandings throughout our denomination on issues
of human sexuality such as homosexuality" and calls for dialogue and mutual respect. A later Commission on
Denominational Unity again recognized the diversity of understandings among us and encouraged American Baptists
to study, pray, and seek common ground.
What do other
Baptists believe, like the Alliance of Baptists or the Southern Baptist
Convention?
The Alliance of Baptists is
deeply rooted in the historic Baptist principles of local church autonomy,
freedom of conscience and soul liberty. As such Alliance congregations are
free to discern their own positions on matters. But the Alliance is a body
that is very inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The
Alliance has done studies on human sexuality and has a progressive position
on same-gender marriage.
The Southern Baptist
Convention, the largest Baptist denomination has taken a turn away from historic
Baptist principles toward a hierarchal structure. The SBC will expel
churches for extending welcome to LGBT people, including them in ministry or
leadership positions. Most progressive SBC churches have been forces out or have
voluntarily left the national or regional church bodies. The SBC has also
excluded churches who seek to embrace the call of women to ministry and church
leadership.
We are already welcoming and affirming of lesbian and gay people and have
several church members who are gay, and some are even serving on boards. Our church sign says "All Are Welcome."
We don't want to exclude anyone. We don't list all the other groups that we don't exclude. Why do we need to specific
about sexual orientation?
If you already have openly LGBT members in your church, you probably feel that you
are clear about your welcome to LGBT people. But we have learned that unless
a church has engaged in a process of discussion and decision about this issue, there are probably a lot of assumptions
and misconceptions about what that welcome really means. There may be many persons in your congregation who are
willing to have gay people in the church, even as leaders, as long as no one talks about it. But this silence can
be very destructive. It is destructive not only to your church as a whole, but also those members of your church
family who are LGBT themselves or the family and friends of LGBT persons. They are receiving an implicit message
that they are welcome to participate in the life of your church only if they remain in the closet. It is difficult,
if not impossible, to make connections between one's faith and one's life if one never hears one's own reality
named and can never share the joys and struggles of one's life.
A second and equally important reason is that
LGBT persons, seeing your church sign, will assume that they are
not welcome unless you are specific in your welcome to them. Almost every church says that they welcome all people.
LGBT people have learned, often through painful personal experiences, that churches do not want them unless they
change or hide. They will not visit you for worship nor take advantage of your church's programming. If you want
lgbt people to feel welcome, you will need to tell them that you do include them in that welcome.
Our church decided long ago that we wouldn't discriminate on the basis
of sexual orientation or gender identity. We even have a clause in our by-laws and a statement in our Sunday bulletin that says so.
We march in gay pride and have even had a union service in our sanctuary. Why should we join your organization
when we already clearly welcome and affirm LGBT people?
There are many reasons for making your statement more public and extending your
welcome beyond your church walls. But, in short, why wouldn't you want to go on record as being Welcoming &
Affirming? There is much to be gained — by your congregation, by other welcoming churches, by individuals in need
of support, and by your denomination — by your willingness to stand up and be counted. Your congregation will gain
in your outreach to those seeking a church home as you will be listed on the Web
and in online communiteis. You will become part of a growing Baptist and ecumenical
community of churches that is inclusive of LGBT persons. We consider "membership" in AWAB similar
to participation in any mission program — we engage in mission in order to do together what we cannot do alone.
By working with other W&A congregations, you provide workshops and worship at ABC Biennial meetings;
national gatherings and regaional events; you provide
resources to help other churches explore sexuality and gender
identiy issues; you find churches or pastoral support for people who
live in other areas; you help build community for those often
excluded from many churches; and you are helping to grow new W&A congregations in places where
they are needed. Your church's financial contribution and involvement in the work of the Association means that
your congregation is doing all this and more. (See also "Why Join?")
How much are the annual church membership dues?
There is no set amount for required for membership. However, our budget is supported
primarily by the generous gifts of our member congregations. We do not consider donations from members as "dues"
but rather have the expectation that member congregations will support AWAB financially, preferably by including
AWAB in their annual mission budget. We suggest a minimum of $100 yearly for a small church; larger churches are
able to give $1000 or more. One way some churches determine their fair amount is to budget for AWAB a figure equal
to 10% of the church's annual mission budget. Another way is to consider the average cost share per church in
the current AWAB budget and increase or decrease that amount depending on the church's resources. However, regardless
of the amount, we encourage that giving to AWAB be considered a special project in mission giving and not be deducted
from a congregation's current United Mission support.
I know that the church I serve as pastor will not decide to be welcoming
and affirming any time soon, but as a supporter of AWAB myself, I wonder how a person might become a contributor.
Individuals are always welcome to become Friends of AWAB. We set up an "Friends
of AWAB" category for just such situations you mention. Even if your church is
not ready to take steps to join, you can still be a Friend of AWAB. Even if your
church is a member, you can support the ongoing work and mission of AWAB through
your contributions. You will find an an application
form to become a Friend of AWAB here.
|