As more than 20,000 Southern Baptists arrive in Nashville next week for their annual convention, two local pastors are organizing a peaceful protest to denounce the Southen Baptist Convention's stance on homosexuality, single parenthood, and all non-Christian religions and many Christian traditions and encouraged the subordination of women.
Greg Bullard (pastor of Covenant of the Cross) and James Hawk (pastor of Stonewall Mission Church) are organizing the event of peace, prayer and song, which will take place Monday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. on the public sidewalk in front of the Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.
"We are inviting other clergy and lay people to participate in this faithful witness," they said in a relase. There will be a planning meeting for clergy and religious leaders on Tuesday, June 14. "If you are prepared to witness your faith, and respectfully disagree with the SBC, you are invited to be part of this action."
Participants are asked to bring a candle that will stay lit for about one hour. Once gathered, the witnesses will walk on the sidewalk over to the Gaylord Entertainment Center.
"We will walk around the walls of the center seven times. Once we have completed our walk, we will gather in front of the center and “sing” our witness and pray silently. There is to be absolutely no violent actions or confrontations with the messengers. Upon conclusion, the participants will walk back to the Country Music Hall of Fame and disperse from there," they said.
Bullard and Hawk said the purpose of the faithful witness is to stand upright and sing out-loud a message of inclusion, compassion and grace that embraces the whole of humanity.
"We are not there to change the mind of the convention (or make them believe what we believe). We are there to tell the rest of the world that this body does not speak for all faithful people and that there are many who disagree with the stance the SBC takes on a wide variety of issues," they said in the release. If you would like additional information, to be listed as a sponsor/supporter, or be present at the planning meeting, please email them at faithfulwitness2sbc@yahoo.com.
