The CBF and this month's [Baptist] Conf. on Sexuality

[William Thornton]

The link is for Aaron Weaver's blog article which does a good job of summarizing, with relevant links, the recent discussion, "rumblings and rumors" as he puts it, on the [Baptist] Conference on Sexuality and Covenant that is co-sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Mercer University and which will be held at First Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia, April 19-21.

Perhaps all has been said here that could be said (I doubt it) but for any who missed any part of it the link above is a good summary.

[KeithE]

Good timeline based look at this Conference and reactions to it. Thanks Big Daddy and William.

I believe there should be some good degree of autonomy of organizations (such as the CBF and SBC and Alliance of Baptists) as well as autonomy of local churches and personal freedom. As such let’s let the CBF work this out in their chosen manner and timeframe.

[Sandy]

I think BDW did a good job of laying out the events that played out and more or less drew the conference into the discussion on CBF and its policy on homosexuality, and managed to stay objective without drawing a conclusion for his readers as to whether this really is just a conference to sit down and discuss issues related to a very relevant topic on the cutting edge of change, or whether there have been some calculated moves intended to put it in a position of being an influential event in helping CBF determine future policy, especially related to the homosexuality issue. Baptists who are used to having influence frequently work that way, and I've observed it happen in both the SBC and CBF in the recent past. I'm sure Colleen Burroughs is hoping for some kind of statement that carries some weight on the issue of homosexuality and CBF funding coming out of this conference.

[Neil Heath]

Don't forget this conference was planned long before Colleen made her comments as CBF moderator, in fact probably before she was even elected.

[Ed Pettibone]

[Big Daddy Weaver]

That's a pretty good point, Ed.

I'd say some of those marriage enrichment seminars back in the 70s share much in common with what Gushee has proposed with this sexuality conference.

In fact, there was a Christianity and Family Life conference - at least two in the 1970s that dealt with topics like divorce, dating, family planning and even homosexuality.

If this conference turns out to be predominantly about homosexuality, then yea, it's historic.

If this conference turns out as Gushee says it will turn out with a focus on a host of issue, then it's not a first-of-its-kind.