The Christian Post is reporting that there has been plenty of healthy and outspoken debate on the issue of “the homosexual lifestyle” at a conference hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Commission in Nashville. Much of the debate has taken place on Twitter (#ERLC2014).
The conference is live streaming.
Praying for the leaders of the Church in Nashville this week to remain faithful to the Gospel first preached #ERLC2014
— David Puryear (@dpuryear19) October 29, 2014
Earlier today we reported that Russell Moore, who serves as president of the ERLC, said at the conference that “ex-gay” therapy has been “severely counterproductive.”
As long as u teach gay=sin, you will be against the LGBTQ's, no matter how many times u use "love" "compassion" while saying it. #ERLC2014
— Bill Connors (@BillConnors5) October 29, 2014
The conference is addressing “how Christians should react to the ongoing battle between those framing the homosexual lifestyle debate as a civil rights issue and those supporting what they believe to be biblical moral values, including traditional marriage.”
Zack Ford, editor of LGBT issues on Think Progress, attended the event and was not shy in offering his opinions on Twitter.
I just can't help but feel all the pro-single talk at #ERLC2014 is just cover for pro-celibacy (homosexuality-shaming) ministering.
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) October 29, 2014
Apparently I missed @SamAllberry's comparison of same-sex couples marrying to gangs robbing banks? #ERLC2014
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) October 28, 2014
“Doubt-filled believer,” author and blogger Rachel Evans also weighed in on the conference, questioning the decision of the conference organizers to not give a voice to LGBT people.
LGBT people watching the live feed and weighing in on #ERLC2014 are not "trolls." They have no other voice in this conversation.
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) October 27, 2014
However, Dr. Richard Land, former president of ERLC, said:
“The gay community is never going to find the Evangelical response satisfactory because we're not going to accept their behavior. All sexual behavior that is outside of heterosexual marriage is a manifestation of the fall, and the fact that we are fallen creatures and this is the way fallen creatures behave.
"We are not singling out same-sex attraction. It was very clear in the conference on the first day, that this is one of the manifestations of the fall along with adultery, living together without matrimony, pornography, etc., etc., all of it."
