Dallas (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Wilshire Baptist Church of Dallas voted to grant LGBT individuals full membership despite the threat of expulsion from the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Pastor Mark Wingfield said before the vote, there was an unspoken don’t ask don’t tell policy. He said although there are some detractors, he’s happy with the outcome.
“We’re not the kind of church where you’ve have to agree with everything the pastor says or the church leaderships says in order to be a member of the church. We value diversity and we want to include all types of people even those who disagree with this decision,” said Wingfield.
He said it was a 14-month decision-making process on how to interpret its by laws concerning its LGBT members. Under the new rules, LGBT members can hold get married and hold positions of authority in the church.
Wingfield said he thinks the executive of the Convention, which is holding its annual convention in Waco this week, violated of its by laws because of the manner in which he threatened expulsion.
“So that’s why there’s this tussle in Waco this week about whether the executive there has the authority to remove a church on his own or whether it requires a process of action by that state body,” he said.
Wishire Baptist is one of several Baptist churches in Texas that have taken similar actions. Wingfield said those churches were also met with a similar fate.
“There are other Baptist Churches in Texas who have ordained gay and lesbian persons and who have performed same-sex marriages; which, we’ve done none of that yet by the way and they have all been previously removed from the Baptist General Convention of Texas,” he said.
Wingfield said the church would like to remain partners with the Baptist General Convention. He said this vote has always been about inclusion because the church’s goal is to welcome everyone with open arms.
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