- Class valedictorian tells classmates to #ShakeItOff, flash mob ensues
- 10-year-old dies after losing consciousness on Magic Mountain roller coaster
- Must-see: Raccoon rides on top of gator
- Rick Ross bonds out of jail, brings the jail with him too
- People are taking the Belly Button Challenge to see if they need to lose weight
Officials with the Southern Baptist Convention today issued a statement saying they will reject any ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that affirms same-sex marriage.
“We will not accept, nor adhere to, any legal redefinition of marriage issued by any political or judicial body including the United States Supreme Court,” said the joint statement by SBC President Rev. Ronnie Floyd as well as past presidents.
It added, “We will not recognize same-sex ‘marriages,’ our churches will not host same-sex ceremonies, and we will not perform such ceremonies.”
The statement was issued during the SBC’s national conference in Columbus, Ohio, at a time when the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of gay marriage by the month’s end. Court watchers expect the court may rule in favor of legalizing same-sex unions across the nation.
"While some evangelicals may be bowing down to the deception of the inclusiveness of same-sex marriage, we will not bow down nor will we be silent," Floyd said Tuesday, to applause and a standing ovation.
The nine SBC pastors at the morning press conference made clear that the scripture’s teaching on marriage is not negotiable, and that, if necessary, they will be willing to break the law in order to follow their beliefs.
“It could come to that,” said Rev. Bryant Wright, a past SBC president and pastor at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Atlanta. “In that case, we would have to obey God’s law versus man’s law.”
Speaking later in the meeting, Former Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran told the story of how he was fired after giving subordinates a book that he wrote in which he described homosexuality as a perversion.
"There are worldly consequences for standing for Christ and standing for biblical truth," he told the group.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
