The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has officially severed its ties with the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC) due to disagreements over the hiring of a lesbian pastors.
According to Baptist News Global, the SBC Executive Committee had issued an ultimatum to the D.C. convention back in February to discontinue fellowship with a church led by lesbian co-pastors.
The church in question, Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, had reportedly voted in January 2017 to approve a legally-married lesbian couple to serve as co-pastors.
Calvary Baptist Church, which was founded by abolitionists 155 years ago, voted to separate from the SBC in 2012.
The commission reportedly warned the DCBC that it would lose its authorization "to receive and disburse Cooperative Program and other SBC contributions" if it does not end its affiliation with churches that have "demonstrated a faith or practice affirming, approving or endorsing homosexual behavior" after May 20.
D. August Boto, who serves as the interim president of the Executive Committee, said that he had received a letter from DCBC executive director Robert Cochran suggesting that no action was taken regarding the request of the SBC. "In his letter, Cochran divulged that he anticipated an end to our relationship," Boto told the Baptist Press.
Baptist News Global noted that the decision affects eight DCBC-affiliated churches that fund SBC missions and ministries.
Boto said that he will be sending another letter that will inform the eight churches that the partnership between SBC and the DCBC has ended beginning May 21.
Cochran reportedly asked for a meeting with Boto and other EC representatives in May to discuss the SBC's ultimatum. After the meeting failed to take place, Cochran offered to meet via conference call.
"In my reply, I indicated that the long window (almost one and one-half years) during which the DCBC had failed to address our concerns ... gave me little hope that a conference call at this late date would be helpful if it did not include those with authority to exclude the errant church from the DCBC's fellowship by May 20," Boto said, according to Baptist Press.
Boto noted that the EC has expressed its willingness to resume the partnership with the DCBC if the Calvary Baptist Church "repents of its actions" or if the DCBC severs its ties with the said church.
In 2002, the SBC North American Mission Board stopped funding for the DCBC due its participation in interfaith dialogue with liberal Baptist groups.
