Gay couples trigger debate at church, Baptist won't let gay couples appear in photo directory

FORT WORTH -- A new pictorial directory was supposed to be part of Broadway Baptist Church's 125th birthday celebration.

Established in 1882 near the infamous Hell's Half Acre, where gamblers and prostitutes once thrived, the church wanted to sing the praises of its missions and its members by publishing a book that included information about its programs and a directory featuring yearbook-style photographs of its members and families.

But since three gay couples asked to have their pictures included, Broadway Baptist has been involved in an increasingly divisive struggle over whether allowing the portraits to appear would be an endorsement of homosexuality by the congregation.

"Baptists are not quiet people. We're dealing with a difficult issue on which we have different opinions that we're not afraid to share," said the Rev. Brett Younger, the church's pastor. "We disagree, but we do so respectfully."

The church will vote in December on a proposal to allow gay members to appear in individual photos, but not as couples. The directory is scheduled to be distributed next year.

Church members have been reluctant to talk about the dispute. Seen as a moderate church within the Baptist denomination, Broadway has about 1,500 members, with about 600 attending Sunday services.

"I think we are a family trying to work out our problems," said Kathy Madeja, chairman of the board of deacons. "I think we are Baptists being Baptists. We are not the only church struggling with this issue."

She's right about that.

This week, Myers Park Baptist Church in North Carolina was expelled from the state's Baptist Convention for welcoming gays and lesbians into the church without trying to change their orientation. The church is led by the Rev. Stephen Shoemaker, a former senior minister at Broadway Baptist.

Today, representatives of the conservative Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth will begin meeting to decide whether to separate from the U.S. church in a dispute stemming from a widening rift over homosexuality and interpretation of Scripture. Episcopal dioceses in Pittsburgh; Quincy, Ill.; and San Joaquin, Calif., have already taken steps to leave the national church.

'Unfortunate situation'

Betty Price, a member of Broadway Baptist for 44 years and a former lay coordinator of the directory, described the directory flap as an "unfortunate situation."

"I love God and this is his church, and God can't be happy with this situation," Price said.

Price said she saw working on the directory as a way to record and celebrate church history, to reclaim former members and to have another opportunity for fellowship.

So the retired teacher said she was "blindsided" when a gay couple arrived in mid-October and asked to have their picture taken together for the directory.

Price believed that Broadway Baptist had a policy of not allowing gay or lesbian couples to appear in the publication. Price helped coordinate the church's last directory in 2002.

"I did not want to change policy without some authorization," Price said.

The men had their picture taken together but agreed to have their pictures taken separately for use in the directory, she said. Price said two other gay couples also asked to appear in the directory.

In an interview, the gay couple said they agreed to be photographed separately because they are "not activists." They also asked not to be identified in the newspaper because neither intended to be a "poster child for a division in the church."

"We are at the church to learn and to serve," one of the men said. "There are people out there who are destined to be activists. I don't feel like one of them."

An 'amazing policy' & more of Gay couples trigger debate at church
Star-Telegram
Nov 16, 2:53 PM