I wish I could say that the Methodist church is a lot better than this, but so far our leadership is not fully accepting of homosexuals.  Still, we wouldn't kick a church out!  Good grief. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Posted on Tue, Apr. 29, 2003 N.C. church kicked out of association for baptizing gays Associated Press http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/5743168.htm CONCORD, N.C. -A Southern Baptist church has been expelled from a religious association after the pastor baptized two gay men and welcomed them into the congregation. Leaders of the Cabarrus Baptist Association - a regional group of 81 Southern Baptist churches - agreed in a closed meeting Monday night to sever ties with McGill Baptist. Of 268 delegates at the meeting, 250 voted to withdraw McGill Baptist's membership. Eleven voted in favor of McGill. Seven abstained. The Rev. Randy Wadford, the association's missions director, read a statement after the vote in which he said the homosexual life_style_ is contrary to God's will and plan for mankind. To allow individuals into the membership of a local church without evidence or testimony of true repentance is to condone the old life_style_, he said. McGill pastor the Rev. Steve Ayers said being kicked out of the association doesn't have many practical implications. The 800-member church had contributed to the association's food and clothing projects but would find a new way to help the poor, he said. The kingdom of Christ is about love, about God's grace and mercy, Ayers said. When a church becomes so judgmental that it can't accept people into their fellowship, it is a sad, sad day. Speakers at the meeting illustrated the divisions between churches that want to include gays and those that don't. Wanda Ritchie, a lifelong member of McGill, told the association that the church was for everyone and it was almost unthinkable for the association to seek to control the membership policy of one church. Cabarrus County commissioner Coy Privette, representing North Kannapolis Baptist, said homosexuality is an anti-Biblical standard of conduct, and that being baptized means repenting of such sins. Ayers said the two gay men, one in his 40s and the other in his 60s, have declined comment, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. As much as the men are upset over the furor, Ayers said they are glad to have found a church. They both attended worship Sunday. When it came time for worshippers to sign the register and mark whether they are members of McGill Baptist, he said, one of the men wrote, Oh yes.     +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+        The Duke Blue Devils: '99, '00, '01, '02, '03 & '04 ACC Champions              The United States