American baptist east evansville gay

Evansville, Ind. — An American Baptist church in Evansville, Ind., drew local media attention with reports it has reversed its previous policy of acceptance and inclusion of members who are openly gay.

NBC television affiliate WFIE reported Aug. 21 that a paper was distributed announcing that American East Baptist Church would no longer condone homosexuality.

The modern policy reportedly says current gay members can be grandfathered in and any future new gay members will be decided case-by-case.

Church leaders are not commenting publicly, but media reports indicate the issue brought discord within the congregation including the resignation of at least one staff member. The church, currently without a permanent senior pastor, reportedly changed the policy when leaders reviewed its mission statement and decided the “homosexual lifestyle” did not fit.

Formed in 2001 by a merger of East Side Baptist Church, founded in 1921, and Eastern Heights Baptist Church, founded in 1959, American Baptist East is affiliated with American Baptist Churches of Indiana/Kentucky and the American Baptist Churches USA. (TAB)

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Church reverses policy on gays

By Bob Allen

An American Baptist church in Evansville, Ind., drew local media attention with reports it has reversed its previous policy of acceptance and inclusion of members who are openly gay.

NBC television affiliate WFIE reported Aug. 21 that a paper was distributed announcing that American East Baptist Church would no longer condone homosexuality. The new policy reportedly says current lgbtq+ members can be grandfathered in and any future unused gay members will be decided case-by-case.

Church leaders aren’t commenting publicly, but media reports indicate the issue brought discord within the congregation including the resignation of at least one staff member. The church, currently without a lasting senior pastor, reportedly changed the policy when leaders reviewed its mission expression and decided the “homosexual lifestyle” didn’t fit.

“I believe that there are a lot of churches that don’t condone homosexuality,” church member Marla Mosher told WFIE. “I think that there’s a difference between condoning it and accepting it. It goes in the matching category as divorce, for some churches, as abortion, as affairs, t

Miscellaneous human sexuality periodicals, [ca.1950-2003]
Collection Number: 7687

Container

Description

Date

Box 1

.10: A Newsletter for & About Queer woman Gay Bisexual Transgendered Questioning Youth for Youth by Youth

Scope and Contents

Subject: LGBT youthPublisher: PRYSMPublication Country: Merged StatesPublication City: (Cleveland, OH)

Box 1

+VE

Scope and Contents

Subject: Health, HIV/AIDSPublication Country: EnglandPublication City: Middlesex

Box 1

10%: Maine's monthly newspaper for lesbians and gay men

Scope and Contents

Subject: Alternative local newspaper

Box 1

1993 Queer woman and Gay National Parade on Washington Update Newsletter

Scope and Contents

Subject: PoliticsPublication Country: United StatesPublication City: Washington, D.C.

Box 1

24 Hour Gay Action Guide

Scope and Contents

Subject: DirectoryPublication City: (New York, NY)

Box 1

810: Newsletter of the Same-sex attracted People's Union (NYU)

Scope and Contents

Subject: EducationPublisher: NYU

Box 1

A Different Light

Scope and Contents

Publisher: (A Different Not heavy Books