CBF leader says it's time to revisit ban on hiring gays

[William Thornton]

[Haruo]

Good for her.

[Dave Roberts]

It says that ABP is actually a news service, not a propganda arm where stories have to be approved. Don't know exactly what Colleen is advocating, and the story is a bit vague. Basically, the ban has proven unenforceable beyond the home office staff. Guess that is true of all churches as well. Only local associations can discipline churches. State conventions can refuse their money, but that is all.

[Gene Scarborough]

This is simply one of the issues of the day in America.

You can either ignore it or deal with it. This lady of integrity is expressing her desire to deal with it. I agree that we should come to some kind of understanding over it.

If Jesus said nothing explicit about it / commanded us to love and forgive one another / ministered to the outcast Samaratans / was unashamed to visit with the woman at the well in broad daylight and offered forgiveness to her---I have my answer as to how I---as his follower---should deal with the issue!!!

If I were a Jew or Pharisee, I would stone them with relish----BUT, I follow Jesus!

[Haruo]

[Tim Bonney]

So by the current policy does the CBF ask everyone who interviews with them if they are gay?

[Ed Pettibone]

[Haruo]

[Ed Pettibone]

[Haruo]

But if they ask only about applicants' positions on the practice of homosexuality, and not about their sexual orientation, then how do they expect to know? It sounds a lot like "CBF does not knowingly employ embezzlers, PERIOD"; as long as they don't ask whether a person is an embezzler, ... umm ...

[Tim Bonney]

[William Thornton]

[Haruo]

Condone, advocate and affirm are very fluid terms. But Ed, the wording is clear about not knowingly hiring practicing homosexuals, but your own words, "CBF does not knowingly employee homosexuals Period", do not mention "practicing". "I'd really like to date you, but we'll have to wait a bit until my job application goes through..." ?

[Ed Pettibone]

[Haruo]

I admit that the "embezzler" bit was a little off the wall, but still I don't think you (Ed) have adequately addressed the difference between CBF's wording "practicing homosexuals" and your own "homosexuals"; they're (at least for many people, gay and straight alike) quite distinct categories. One is a subset, not a synonym, of the other.

[William Thornton]

I'll leave the CBF policy to the CBF, whose moderator says that the "first" order of business after the revisioning is to revisit this. But perhaps I will make some unofficial, outsider observations.

Burrough's view is that it should not be revisited just to say 'howdy' but to find a way to eliminate or amend it. She even states that it should be the very first order of business after this revisioning process is over. Either the CBF has a Moderator who is out of step with the membership or one who represents the organization's movement in the last two decades towards a more liberal policy.

Need any be reminded that the slam of the CBF from the SBC for many years includes this issue? The CBF fended that off decisively years ago with their clear statement of policy, the one Burroughs seeks to put at the very top of their agenda.

I give credit to Ed who has been the only CBFer here who has repeatedly and plainly represented the longstanding policy.

I don't see this as a surprising development but certainly a curious one. It is unlikely that she fails to understand the sensitivity of the matter yet raised it in an official forum and out of her top position.

Guess we will see where this goes and who with the CBF will be the first respond to her.

[Ed Pettibone]

[William Thornton]

[Tim Bonney]

Ed I'd like to ask a polity question because I just don't know. How do people get to sit on the coordinating council to have a vote on CBF policies? Is it a delegate/messenger system? If so how is it representative? I think that makes some difference to how the organization makes policy and theological decisions.

[Ed Pettibone]

[William Thornton]

William: "Say, Ed, who is the elected head of the CBF these days?"

Ed: "Colleen Burroughs."

William: "Thanks, Ed."

[Neil Heath]

[Neil Heath]

One correction, Ed. I think the chair of the search committee for Vestal's successor is George Mason, not Colleen.

[Ed Pettibone]

[Ed Pettibone]