by Sandy » Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:39 pm
As far as Hardage and the BGCT are concerned, he's heading off trouble at the pass, so to speak. One of the big concerns among most BGCT affiliated churches about its hand-picked, CBF leaning executive board is that it will do something to lead the BGCT into a higher level of financial support of the financially struggling CBF, going beyond the current level of voluntary designation. Look at the numbers. The BGCT allows churches to designate missions money to CBF, the SBC, BGCT "global missions" causes, or any combination of the three. Look at the numbers in the Standard article. The SBC amount is 10 times what goes to CBF. That's in a convention that has long been billed as "moderate." Conventions are not directed in such matters by their employees in denominational headquarters buildings, those individuals work for the churches, and the churches of the BGCT have clearly expressed their desire for an exclusively Biblical view on the subject.
This is an issue that will be divisive for groups like CBF. In order to characterize homosexual behavior as anything but sin, and to handle it in a manner other than something which requires repentance and forgiveness requires stepping away from the Biblical narratives regarding human sexuality. It's becoming obvious that there really aren't very many people in the pews of churches of just about any kind who are willing to do that. CBF is entering its second generation, as William has stated, with shrinking financial contributions, and leadership that is entrenched and aging, with apparently very few "young leaders" left to whom the reins can be passed. If they get too far ahead, and around the corner from their suppport base, they endanger their future. I guess the decision those who want to be more liberal on this issue have to answer is whether or not they are willing to continue to support the organization if its majority prefers not to do things their way.