What is the official policy of the American Baptist Churches regarding homosexuality?
Historically, AWAB has been rooted in the ABC/USA. As a divers denomination the ABC/USA is a very diverse denomination, with a variety of beliefs on many issues. Throughout our history we have struggled and often disagreed on many social issues including slavery, the role of women in the church, abortion, and over the last decade homosexuality and sexual orientation. Since the local American Baptist church is autonomous, it is free to call its own pastors and make its own decisions in matters of faith and practice. Resolutions and policy statements passed at the regional and national level are informative, but not binding on the local church. In 1992 the General Board of the ABCUSA defeated a resolution by direct vote and later passed by mail ballot a similar statement reading, “We affirm that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.” In 1993 the General Board passed a subsequent resolution “Calling for Dialogue on Human Sexuality” which acknowledges “a va
