Austin, TX - On February 24, 1998, the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, voted to kick out University Baptist Church in Austin because of it's inclusivity of lesbian and gay members.  The BGCT claimed UBC's ministry welcoming lesbian and gay members was an affirmation of the gay lifestyle and against biblical teaching.  UBC was previously disfellowshipped from the Austin Baptist Association, it's local Southern Baptist group.  UBC remains affiliated with the American Baptist Churches/USA (ABC of the South), the Alliance of Baptists, and the Cooperative Baptists Fellowship.

At the Executive Board meeting, the pastor of UBC, Dr. Larry Bethune, was allowed only ten minutes to address the board.  None of the other members of UBC in attendance or supporting friends from Austin churches were invited or allowed to speak. The motion passed after a 90 minute discussion by board members which included several substitute motions and amendments, all of which failed. Several people (noticeably including several courageous women) spoke against the motion, citing the lack of appropriate process, the violation of Baptist polity, and the need of Baptists to be more compassionate in their ministry with gays and lesbians and their families.

"We cannot approve of churches endorsing homosexual practice as biblically legitimate," in the words of Fort Worth pastor Charles Davenport, who chairs the committee that proposed the resolution. Davenport said, "We commend the [University Baptist] church for their ministry [to gays and lesbians], and we feel that churches should minister [to them], but ministering is different than an affirmation of, and we interpret [University's position] to be an affirmation of.  In response Bethune reacted with uncharacteristic sourness, "I don't feel very commended as a church for our ministry to gays and lesbians today. The convention has an odd way of showing it."

In a church conference on March 4, the members of UBC voiced strong feelings of grief at the BGCT action threatening to end their long partnership and investment in the ministries and institutions of the BGCT. Wishing to act without malice and in the spirit of good will, the church voted to comply with the wishes of the Executive Board by removing any reference to active affiliation with the BGCT from their web site and other literature. The questions of what to do with $11,000 budgeted towards the ministries of the BGCT and of future attempts at affiliation with the BGCT were referred to the denominational relations committee of the church for future recommendations.

This is not the first time that UBC has been a step ahead of its peers. In 1948, UBC was booted from the Austin Baptist Assocaiton for allowing African-Americans to share pews with Caucasians; in the 1970's, UBC shocked others by ordaining women as deacons. In the course of coming to terms with gay and lesbian issues, including ordaining several deacons, the congregation was again disfellowshipped from the Austin Baptist Association, and had already chosen for the last three years not to send "messengers" (representatives) to the Baptist General Convention of Texas meetings rather than create division there.

If you wish to offer your support and prayers to members at UBC, write to University Baptist Church, 2130 Guadalupe St, Austin, Texas 78705; phone (512) 478-8559 or email: staff@ubcaustin.org.  You can also check out their website with additional information at: http://www.ubcaustin.org.