Hephzibah Baptist Church

"Hephzibah Baptist Church" is a conservative Southern Baptist church located in Wendell, North Carolina. They are also currently part of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Anti-homosexuality

During November 14-15, 2006, their current pastor of thirty years, Reverend William R. Sanderson, made the news by putting in a vote to favor the banning of pro-gay churches that welcome practicing homosexuals from being part of the Baptist State Convention. Hephzibah Baptist Church is one of the churches who refuse gays full membership.

Articles of Incorporation

The change in the Articles of Incorporation says that among churches not in friendly cooperation with the Convention are churches which knowingly act to affirm, approve, condone, endorse, promote, support or bless homosexual behavior along with a change in the bylaws saying that an individual who is a member of a church doing the same thing is not eligible to serve as a trustee.

Views and stance

The pastor stated one of his reasons for supporting the ruling, saying, "We've got to fight for our children's lives. When they start saying in school that a man and a man is just like a man and a woman, well no, it's not." Instead of viewing it as homophobic, he sees it as protecting his flock from a particular sin, and as a defense of the traditional morals and values of Christianity. He is head of the Conservative Carolina Baptists and Hephzibah Baptist Church is involved in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He also goes as far to criticize the United States of America for the way the country has currently become. He tries, according to his beliefs, to do what he can to stem the moral free-fall around him.

Stanley Welch, who was elected president of the convention, said that the decision was not an attempt to attack homosexuals, but that the issue of homosexuality and church membership had to be dealt with because modern American society has "pushed it to the forefront." He said that it was not "a fight anyone was going to look for," but that they would not "sweep it under the rug" either. [http://www.abpnews.com/675.article]

ee also

*Independent Baptist