Newsweek: Mississippi church votes unanimously to kick out lesbian couple

[Mrs. Overall]

A Baptist church in Mississippi unanimously voted to eject a lesbian couple. Then the church's pastor wrote the couple to make sure they knew they were exiled because of their "unbiblical lifestyle."

Mary Catherine Trollinger posted a copy of Pastor Barry Baker's letter on Facebook. The letter is on stationary belonging to Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven.

"It's been about a year now since you left your church family to live an unbiblical lifestyle with Olivia Jennings," Baker wrote. "At the outset I kindly, but firmly, reminded both of you that a homosexual relationship is forbidden in Scriptures and against God's original design."

He claims the women, married on Father's Day 2019, were "defiling" the church and "degrading the name of Christ." After encouraging friends, family and church members to show them the errors of their ways, Baker said, he "hoped you would repent."

https://www.newsweek.com/souther-baptists-lesbians-church-expelled-1455153?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=NewsweekTwitter&utm_medium=Social

[underpants]

1. We had soccer parents who had to sign a non- public display agreement

At their church.

[Turin_C3PO]

2. They should find

a new church that is actually loving and living Christ’s teachings. Maybe a mainline denomination. It’s a shame this Baptist church is so full of hate and intolerance.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Stationery. Jeez, Newsweek!

I wish this couple the best and hope they find a welcoming community.

[virgogal]

10. It says "stationary".

[Cal Carpenter]

16. Should be spelled with an 'e'

The 'a' means not moving (as in stationary bike). The 'e' means paper products etc.

[virgogal]

24. Thanks,learn something every day.

[Cal Carpenter]

25. I'm a bit of a word nerd. Don't mind if regular people misspell things

or use bad grammar in emails or posts, and I do too sometimes. As long as people get their point across I don't think it matters.

But with professional magazines and newspapers and other publications, it drives me nuts!!

[ms liberty]

27. I caught that too. I knew I wouldn't be the only one, at least not here! n/t

[NightWatcher]

4. Glad they kicked them out.

Ladies, the church is a hate filled sack of misogyny, bigotry, and ignorance. Enjoy this wonderful awakening.

However if you wish to return to another one just like the other one, I can't help you.

[RKP5637]

5. Better off without the stupid F'en church! Most evilness in the world IMO has come from churches.

[spanone]

6. To quote Gandhi....

'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

[Archae]

7. Preacher and/or other "moral watchers" caught in a sex scandal in 3-2-1...

[atreides1]

8. Uh huh

"The Southern Baptist Convention, the denomination's governing body, officially considers homosexuality a sin and opposes same-sex marriage. In 2017, the SBC issued the Nashville Statement, denying that "a homosexual or transgender self-conception is consistent with God's holy purposes in creation and redemption."

So, homosexuality is a sin...but adultery isn't...right?

If the SBC supports Trump, who by their own book of myths is committing adultery, then they must not consider adultery a sin?

[bitterross]

9. Why were they going to a Baptist church?

I'm a former Southern Baptist. They're the most racist, misogynistic, hateful people. They're the most judgemental people.

Terrible human beings.

[Paladin]

11. That pastor's spewing of hate is ironic.

Considering that his church's origins involve an 1845 split from the Baptist Church, for the specific purpose of supporting slavery.

[Hortensis]

12. Whatever. Churches have the right to uphold their doctrine.

That letter certainly wasn't nice, , or probably at all necessary.

But remember, these women belonged to that conservative church and thus previously supported its doctrines and various forms of acting out among its congregants themselves. Chances are they're naturally conservative themselves.

Nothing like personal need to create "but-this's-about-me" liberal microviews in people, but they've clearly grown at least somewhat beyond their upbringings, and as members of that better church perhaps they hold political and religious views that support the freedoms of others as they wish to be treated themselves.

[GulfCoast66]

19. I think only one did. And sounds like she grew up in the church.

Most likely joined as a child.

Hell, I guess the I may still officially be on the rolls of the last Southern Baptist Church I last attended 35 years ago.

[Hortensis]

20. They met in church, but yes, very likely both were raised to it.

They seem fairly young, so may not have reached a point of questioning what they were part of. In any case, hopefully they have much more worthy and competent spiritual leadership now.

[GulfCoast66]

22. Well, sounds like they do have an accepting church now.

I’m a freethinker but certainly respect churches that are open and loving.

[Beringia]

13. Jessica Lange did a movie on this subject, where her husband transitioned to a woman

and their church exiled them.

You can watch it for free on youtube

[GoCubsGo]

14. This is what's known as "a blessing in disguise."

It's times like this where one gets to se the people around them as their true selves. A lot of times, it ain't pretty, but at least it helps one know who they are better off without them in their lives. These women are better off without that kind of bigotry teir lives. I hope they can find a new church that accepts everyone for who they are.

[gratuitous]

15. A unanimous vote?

Did Trollinger and Jennings vote to kick themselves out of their own church? That seems unlikely to me. It looks more like yet another instance of "a conversation about us without us." That's pretty unbiblical, too.

[walkingman]

17. As Molly Ivans once said, "The trouble with Baptists, they didn't hold them under long enough"

[Fresh_Start]

18. love one of the Newsweek replies...

It's amusing seeing Conservative Cardboard Christians commenting on real Christianity too.

[Initech]

21. Guess the Golden Rule is dead now?

"Do unto others as they would have you... oh who are we kidding, go fuck yourselves, you unworthy heathens!"

[hunter]

23. Southaven is a suburb of Memphis and they are attending an inclusive church now.

They'll be fine.

In small town U.S.A., where the church and community are often the one and the same, being rejected by one's own family and church can be a death sentence by suicide or by homelessness on the road out of hell.

Brain drain in these oppressive communities is a serious issue. All the smart creative young people leave.

Gracewood Baptist Church, which was pretty dim to begin with, has increased its own Stupidity Quotient.

Let this be the beginning of the end for this church.

[Croney]

26. Ugh. My niece and her wife just moved to Mississippi.

Our family church history is Southern Baptist. Luckily, I'm an atheist, and my niece will put up with zero bullshit so I doubt they'll have any problems.