There is nothing more important to the vitality of a movement than it’s commitment to its core beliefs. Dynamic movements hold both orthodoxy (core beliefs) and engagement with the culture in creative tension.
About a year ago my denomination (Baptist Union of Victoria) reappointed its New Testament professor, Dr Keith Dyer. The appointment was supported by the denominational leadership and theological college and affirmed by a two-thirds majority of a BUV Assembly of ministers and church representatives.
Historically, the BUV has been an evangelical denomination with a conservative statement of faith that upholds the supremacy of scripture.
Keith’s reappointment, despite his teaching on sexuality, says a lot about the state the BUV is in.
In an unusual interpretation of Genesis 1:27 Keith Dyer argues that God created humanity, male and female not male or female. Therefore, humanity, made in the image of God, is a continuum stretching from male to female and everything in between. This view of human sexuality, he claims, was reaffirmed by both Jesus and Paul.
For Keith, these are issues of justice and righteousness. Therefore he supports the marriage of homosexuals and their right to child adoption.
Keith responds to those who appeal to the “plain sense of Scripture” that they are in danger of reducing God’s Living Word to a book of dead letters and laws. “For the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor 3:6).”
Keith states that the affirmation of the ‘homosexual’, the ‘intersexual’ and the ‘transsexual’ is needed to awaken the church to its full glory as the body of Christ.
I’ve written a response to Keith’s teaching. My concern here is what this case study can teach us about the decline of a denomination and how to prevent it. More on that later.
Here’s the full text of Keith’s article: A Consistent Biblical approach to (homo)sexuality
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I was quite surprised by this. Several questions come to mind. Are Dyers comments representative of Baptists in general? Are they representative of Baptist Clergy? Are they representative of Baptist administration and leadership?
Have others protested this? What has been the wider reaction? Are you a lone voice or are your concerns those of the majority?
I have many more questions but I pray your efforts will bear fruit.
Anthony: Here’s part of Murray Campbell’s report of the BUV Assembly meeting:
“He (Keith) received a very warm and unanimous endorsement by the Council of Whitley College and the leadership of the BUV and was subsequently accepted by more than two-thirds of the vote. What is notable about this decision was that the Baptist Assembly voted with the knowledge that Dr Dyer both believes and teaches that homosexuality is acceptable before God.”
Both the denominational leadership, the denominational college and the representative body of the ministers and churches supported the appointment. Which means that either they affirm Keith’s position, or are not troubled by it sufficiently to say so publicly.
It’s over twelve months since this happened. To my knowledge Murray is one of the few church leaders in the state who have spoken out publicly on the matter.
Murray’s report: http://mentonebaptistchurch.blogspot.com/2009/06/victorian-baptist-assembly-may-2009_8134.html
well done Steve for raising your voice. I trust your input encourages more Baptists to get involved
In case your readers are unaware, the BUV is currently undergoing a process of ‘reimagining’. Everything is on the table and we are dialoguing over what kind of BUV do we want to see over the next 10 years. In two weeks time the Churches and Baptist agencies are meeting together to begin formulating this.
I’ve written some reflections here http://mentonebaptistchurch.blogspot.com/2010/05/reflections-on-re-imagining-buv.html
I also sent this onto the task force running the process
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[...] My denomination is in decline and desperately needs to be renewed by the Word and the Spirit. It’s the sort of decline that cannot be fixed by missional initiatives, management consultants, or church growth principles. [...]