Marriage resolution raises opposition
Baptist support for traditional family brings heated words from gays, Unitarians and others
By Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
The Oklahoma Southern Baptists call for businesses to deny family benefits to same-sex and unmarried couples was described Wednesday as unfair and anti-family.
"It seems to me that all families should be valued, whethers it's the traditional man, woman and children or it's two women living together taking care of children or two men, or a man and a woman living together," said Pat Reaves, a member of OBU Pride, an Oklahoma Baptist University alumni organiztion for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender individuals and their allies.
"It doesn't seem to me to pass the fairness test," Reaves said Wednesday. The 1976 OBU graduate's comments came one day after the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma approved a resolution urging businesses, organizations and government to offer family benefits only to traditional families, which leaders defined as a husband, wife and children or a single parent and children.
"Doing otherwise defies Biblical principles and moral standards for the family," the resolution stated.
It was approved Tuesday by Southern Baptist delegates at the convention's 100th annual metting in Oklahoma City.
The Rev. Mark Christian, pastor of First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, said the Baptists, as Oklahoma's dominant denomination, may chase companies away with such ideas.
"This world is becoming increasingly pluralistic. This seems to be an attempt to roll back to a theocracy where people are chased out of town or there is a witch-hunt for people who are different. This is just one attempt to strip humanity from a group of people."
He said determining the Biblical standards for family can be daunting when one takes a literal interpretation of Scriptures.
"A biblical standard included the right to sell your daughter into slavery," Christian said.
"If you're going to say that's no longer a relevant issue for today's families, where do you draw the line? How do you decide where to open the door and where to close it in the definition of families?"
Paige Schilt, media director for Soul Force, said the organization is hoping businesses do not heed the Baptists' recommendation.
"Denying benefits to same sex families ultimately hurts children as well as adults," Schilt said.
She described Soul Force as a national social justice and civil rights organization committed to freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religious and political oppression.
"We hope businesses and organizations will recognize that all families deserve to be able to protect and provide for those they love," she said.
Meanwhile, several people chose to answer NewsOK's online question about the Baptists' resolution.
Amber Cariker of Norman supports the denomination's resolution.
"I don't believe that when you encounter a homosexual person you should be mean or disrespectful, but I think the commitment it shows to be legally married is something that should be considered for the family benefits," said Cariker, who said she attends Heartland Free Will Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
Debbie Ward of Moore said she is against the idea because it smacks of self-righteousness.
"The Bible says 'judge not lest you be judged," Ward said.
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