Southern Baptists urge Christians to stop displaying the Confederate flag

[struggle4progress]

June 14th, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ... The resolution, originally presented by African-American Pastor Dwight McKissic, had stirred debate and led to at least one call to withdraw it. The version presented to thousands of delegates to the denomination's annual meeting in St. Louis was less strongly worded.

Despite some opposition on Tuesday from delegates who thought even the more conciliatory version was divisive and political, delegates voted by a wide margin to strengthen the language. They removed a sentence saying that the flag serves for some as a memorial to loved ones who died in the Civil War and not as a racist symbol.

They also changed the call for Christians to "consider prayerfully whether to limit, or even more so, discontinue" the flag's display. The final version approved by delegates simply asks Christians to discontinue its use.

The vote followed an earlier address by convention President Ronnie Floyd, a white pastor who has made racial unity a priority of his presidency. He told the audience in St. Louis, "I believe the issue of racism is from Satan and his demonic forces of hell. It is an assault on the Gospel of Jesus Christ" ...

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/jun/14/southern-baptists-urge-christians-stop-displaying-confederate-flag/371092/

[classof56]

1. As a former Southern Baptist, I am heartened by this news.

One small step for the SBC, perhaps. I'll await further enlightened policies, especially on gay rights, which was the reason I walked away from the SB church I was attending in 2004, never to return.

Here's hopin'!