Baptist Union Assembly 2014 – current position on same-sex marriage

The 2014 Assembly of the Baptist Union of Great Britain took place on 10–11 May at the Bethel Convention Centre, West Bromwich.

At the 2014 Baptist Union Assembly

There is an ongoing process of conversations, prayerful reflection and debate in the churches and other institutions of the Baptist Union about issues of homosexuality and in particular same-sex marriage, which is now the law of the land. It is recognised that there is a breadth of opinion on these issues, and the process is continuing.

At Assembly 2014 an update was shared and the following statement was offered on behalf of the Baptist Steering Group to express where the BU is up to on the journey.  This will serve as a backdrop to the continuing conversations and the way that Baptists will seek to behave – Baptist churches are being encouraged to continue to engage with these issues.

As a union of churches in covenant together we will respect the differences on this issue which both enrich us and potentially could divide as we seek to live in fellowship under the direction of our Declaration of Principle ‘That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His Laws.’

Upholding the liberty of a local church to determine its own mind on this matter, in accordance with our Declaration of Principle, we also recognise the freedom of a minister to respond to the wishes of their church, where their conscience permits, without breach of disciplinary guidelines.

We affirm the traditionally accepted Biblical understanding of Christian marriage, as a union between a man and a woman, as the continuing foundation of belief in our Baptist Churches.

A Baptist minister is required to live and work within the guidelines adopted by the Baptist Union of Great Britain regarding sexuality and the ministry that include ‘a sexual relationship outside of Christian marriage (as defined between a man and a woman) is deemed conduct unbecoming for a minister’.

A report on Premier Christian Radio interpreted this as apparently a “seismic shift” in the Baptist Union of Great Britain’s doctrine on sexuality, and said that Baptist Churches would now be offering same-sex marriages. However, in an interview with Adrian Warnock, Stephen Keyworth, the Faith and Society Team Leader and spokesperson for the BU, clarified the situation and explained that no decision had been taken – see www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2014/05/interview-on-same-sex-marriage-with-baptist-union-spokesman-stephen-keyworth.