American Baptist churches to split over gay issue

COVINA, Calif. (AP) — Leaders of 300 churches in the Pacific Southwest plan to break from the American Baptist Churches USA, claiming the national denomination has failed to implement its declaration that gay relationships are incompatible with Christianity.

The Pacific Southwest Region said some churches with liberal stands on homosexuality have not been properly disciplined. But a top committee of the denomination said Monday that the national church does not set policy for any of its 5,800 congregations, because each is autonomous.

The Rev. Glenn E. Layne, pastor of First Baptist Church in Temple City, who favors a split, said the move "is not a gay-bashing issue. This is an authority-of-scripture issue." The Pacific Southwest board of directors plans to stop contributing to national headquarters as of Dec. 31.

"This is not a happy day," Layne said. "But I have to believe that God is preparing us for something better."

A conservative Baptist leader in West Virginia said last week that he and his allies were also preparing to split from the national organization.

The debate over interpreting what the Bible says about homosexuality is tearing at mainline Protestant denominations. Among the most dramatic examples is the worldwide Anglican Communion, which is struggling to stay together following the decision of its U.S. province, the Episcopal Church, to consecrate its first openly gay bishop two years ago.

The 1.5 million-member American Baptist Church is more liberal than the Southern Baptist Convention, the solidly conservative, 16.3 million-member group.

American Baptist leaders said they will be contacting congregations in the Pacific Southwest to discuss their affiliation with the national denomination.