Ten years have passed since Sandi Patty's divorce from John Helvering, since revelations that she had an adulterous relationship during her marriage, and since she married the married backup. Southern gospel music, including song lyrics, melodies, and live music experiences, has provided evangelicals with the tools to negotiate the tensions between past and present, sacred and secular, commercialism and piety, and, for some, as Harrison details towards the end of his book, between orthodox and "queer" identities. She often wore her hair in a beehive more than a foot above her head. This article will take a look at both groups and try to shed some light on the situation. Those who know the couple say Webb was involved with another woman. White gospel embraced "southern" as a way to assert traditionalism, authenticity, and relevancy (8596). In 2009, Sonya married songwriter Jimmy Yeary. So, what is What's the difference between a believer and a disciple? To that end, he writes that he is "particularly indebted to autoethnography for empowering scholars to mobilize personal experiences too long deprecated by humanist scholarship" (14). America and Kluck, Kluck, Kluck, Using Gospel Music's Secrets to Confront Black Homophobia, Review of Anthony Heilbut's 'The Fan Who Knew Too Much. She won 1. A journal about real and imagined spaces and places of the US South and their global connections. the couple jumped to their deaths from the bridge over the New River Between 2003 and 2010, they were somewhat inactive as a group in order to spend more time with their own families, although they did reunite for concerts periodically. The image of the gospel-diva also encourages straight evangelicals to imagine themselves as cultural outsiders oppressed by a dominant secular culture and its tastes. Sometimes the different elements are unaltered and traditional, but more often they are tossed into the trio's musical blender so that a new mixture emerges. Harrison's argument here, while persuasive, seems insular. The lyrics of many gospel songs Kieffer wrote evoke scenes of the old home-place and voice yearnings to transcend the crises of modern life and seek refuge in a simpler Edenic past or a new home in Zion (58). The reaction has been mostly supportive for the couple, but Webb drew particular scrutiny over one sentence in the announcement. Still, you can't help but wonder if just "complicating" southern gospel music's "orthodox power structures," while never challenging or disrupting them, makes participation in that culture akin to complicity. In this edition, I will post my thoughts on a recent change that took place as Glenn Dustin, bass vocalist for Legacy Five, left the group. Jerry Thompson. The Fan Who Knew Too Much: Aretha Franklin, the Rise of the Soap Opera, Children of the Gospel Church, and Other Meditations. Goodman's style, like that of Tammy Faye Bakker, represented the gospel diva's conscious and "highly visible deviation from secular American culture," a "style of adornment" that constituted the "semiotics of evangelical nonconformism"a rebuke of middle-class gender conformism (147). It would be like Germany without its Jews." many so like these: Kathy and Gerald Crabb, Joe and Lily Isaacs, Tim Surrett and Sonya Isaacs, Ben Isaacs and Crystal Crabb, Jerry Thompson and Kelly Nelon Thompson, Dottie and Buck Rambo, I know there are tons of others, these ones were the first that came to mind. The Exceptional Talent of Bo Hinson. It's time to meet the real Jesus and know Him more deeply than you ever have before! Greater Vision has been an important part of the Southern Gospel music scene for over two decades, helping to preserve the genres relevance. A follow up project with Lyric Street was planned in 2004, but the label first floated a single to radio to test the waters. In this study, we see Jesus teach in the Nazarene synagogue and reveal What does it mean to be chosen by Jesus, the Rabbi? Gerald and Kathy divorced in 2006, and no official reason has been cited for the divorce. Their music's defining notational feature was its use of seven shape-notes instead of the traditional four shape-notes, which were associated with more complex melodies and harmonies. I wrote a song basically painting myself into a corner, which is basically what marriage is, Webb said in the introduction, but there is real power in making commitments in the face of uncertainty.. Meanwhile in 2003, the Isaacs joined the Homecoming Tour full time and saw their song "Stand Still" hit number one on the Singing News chart. If you want to know Morgan Evans' perspective on his divorce from Kelsea Ballerini, you can check out the five-part docuseries about his single "Over for You." In August, Kelsea announced the couple was splitting after nearly five years of marriage. Come Home to the All-New CBN Southern Gospel station! What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? He later headed a group billed as Joe Isaacs and the Sacred Bluegrass. . They have two children. Part of HuffPost Religion. Harrison's mission is to reveal southern gospel music's mutability, its capacity to "deconstruct the very orthodox doctrines it depicts." Religion and American Culture 18, no. In 2003, gospel singer Kirk Talley was "outed" when . Ben Vaughn grew up in the Philadelphia area on the New Jersey side of the river. Heilbut, the noted gospel music producer and author of The Gospel Sound,2Anthony Heilbut, The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1971). Though Jesse Aiken conceived of seven-shape notation in 1846, Ruebush-Kieffer songbooks like The Temple Star popularized the style of singing that Harrison argues anticipated the "melodic and harmonic developments that would come to define twentieth-century white gospel" (64). Second, what is it about southern gospel that attracts "queer" fans and supports heterodox interpretations of a seemingly orthodox musical culture? Lily Fishman Isaacs has a Jewish background. Listening to that artistic contribution is not an endorsement of everything that person is about, Moore said. 5 of the Best Finnish Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Bands. Its lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music. Gerald had four children: Aaron, Adam, Jason and Terah. When I went through my divorce my church offered a "Rebuilders" ministry which was partly a study of the first 3 chapters of the book of the prophet. The popular southern gospel group, The Statesmen, told racial jokes on stage during the height of the civil rights movement and later recorded an album with Georgia's segregationist governor, Lester Maddox, in 1971. See more ideas about gaither, southern gospel singers, southern gospel music. Shortly afterward, Morgan wrote "Over for You." "This song is the most personal thing I've ever From Legacy Five's Facebook page, here is Glenn Dustin's personal statement: If you know me at all, you know I am a man of few . The Martins are a Christian music vocal trio composed of three siblings: Joyce Martin Sanders, Jonathan Martin, and Judy Martin Hess. It did reach number one and it held the position for three months in the summer of 1993. While Harrison emphasizes Kieffer and Ruebush's role in creating what would become "southern gospel," he does not discount the significant role Vaughn played in the modernization of the genre and industry. French had sung baritone with the group from 1982 to 2014 To say we are shocked would be an understatement. Today, they divorce at around the same rate, around 30 percent, according to GSS data, up from 19 percent in 1988. Rebecca married John Bowman in 1994, and John joined the group to play guitar and banjo. Their ability to bring a touch of magic to their performances is due in large part to their beautiful vocals and virtuoso playing, as well as their ability to bring their audience to their feet. Their music was bluegrass, but their vocals were more akin to Southern Gospel, and so they began to have moderate success in both genres. as well as those voices and perspectives that have found no other meaningful outlet for this type of conversation in the epistemologically cloistered world of southern gospel" (11). Site Map | By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. How can we relate to Him? SGNScoops is saddened to hear of the passing of Jerry Thompson. What is our deepest need? . "Journal of Men, Masculinities, and Spirituality 3, no. She also performed on the off-Broadway theatre circuit. In 1990 A second album release sealed their position in gospel music and the contract was sold to Springhill Records, which would take them to an all-new level of marketing. Sonya Isaacs released a self-titled project on the Lyric Street label in 2000 that was aimed at the mainstream Country market. This is the second edition of "Thoughts" on Southern Gospel Thoughts. Listen now to your favorite southern gospel music artists like: The Gaither Vocal Band, Jason Crabb, Ricky Skaggs, Greater Vision, The Hoppers, The Blackwood Brothers, and the Cathedral Quartet. by Charlie Kerlinger | Sep 20, 2022 | Music Genres. A biblical case for remarriage could be made in these circumstances. in the gospel world for arranging music for artists such as Judy The queer gospel fan has no such luxury and suffers the burden of "self-regulation that falls to the nonconforming individual who wishes to forge a religious identity beyond what orthodoxy strictly permits or heaven will allow" (168). On The Scandal Of Southern Baptist Divorce Date: June 1, 2010 Event (s): 2010 Annual Meeting Topic (s): divorce, family WHEREAS, The Bible reveals that marriage is a gospel mystery, pointing to Christ's union with His church (Ephesians 5:22-32); and Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? Gorge. Someone like Derek Webb isnt dependent on radio, Turner said. Access to SGHistory.com may be temporarily blocked if multiple pages are loaded in less than ten seconds. You'll hear a sweet southern blend of bluegrass, classic gospel, and southern gospel favorites! Her parents married at the end of World War II. Why does God allow them? The result has been labeled simply as Martin Music. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. 1069357, Time Tunnels: A journey through the history of Christian music, Geraldine Latty: The UK worship leader with a new CD, Rick Joyner: Music and the Spiritual World, For more on The Kingdom Heirs visit the The Kingdom Heirs artist profile. The attention inspired Marshall Crenshaw to record Bens Im Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee) for his Downtown album. He's pretty famous New York: Random House, 2012. Its name comes from its origins in the southeastern United States. . Interested in submitting your work to Southern Spaces? Joe Isaacs was playing with a group called the Greenbriar Boys when he met Lily Fishman at Gerdes Folk City, a New York City hotspot. Goodman's appeal rested partially on her appearance. Kingsmen lead singer Tim Surrett married Sonya Isaacs and joined the group as well, playing dobro and singing. Isaacs also toured some with Gill as a backup singer and featured vocalist around this time. http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/culture/6221/the_gospel_church_and_the_ruining_of_gay_lives%3A Jerry was a gospel singer/ songwriter and a long time member of the Rex Nelon Singers and the Nelon Family in the 80s and 90s. The post didn't specify what happened between husband and wife Mike and Kelly Bowling for her to leave. The Talleys retired from singing in 2020. And what do you do As Jesus continues His tense exchange with the religious rulers of the What do you do when you find yourself in the place of spiritual What is God like in the worst moment of your life? Gary Arnold was added on . A southern gospel group, The Crabb Family was founded by Gerald Crabb and Kathy Crabb. What does it mean to be blessed? In 1956, a performer named J. D. Sumner recorded a song in "flamboyant black dialect" (99). influential website. The band was together five years, releasing two albums and touring the U.S. several times. Their portfolio of songs includes every musical palate, ranging from innovative and refashioned hymn arrangements to contemporary songs of praise and worship. Site by Mere. His NoiseTrade music website has also been seen as an innovative space for a mixture of Christian and independent music. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 23:56, Learn how and when to remove this template message, http://southernspaces.org/2014/arkansas-love-evangelical-crisis-management-and-southern-white-gospel-music, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Martins&oldid=1141818504, Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "Out of His Great Love", Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "Only God Knows", Country Recorded Song of the Year: "Count Your Blessings", Southern Gospel Song of the Year: "The Promise". We'll study study Jesus' life chronologically and verse by verse through the Gospel of John, while adding content from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, to give us the most complete understanding possible of His incredible life on Earth. In recent years, the topic of who is gay in southern gospel music has become a hot button issue. Original members included Patty Wilson (alto), Jim Bluford (tenor), Gene McKinney (lead), Raymond Parker (bass), and a 13-year-old Gary Bilyeu (piano). In God's Kingdom, Jesus tells His disciples to aspire to be like little What is the love of God like? He was later with Silent Power and the Royals before forming the group Mercy's Way. Discover the single most amazing prophecy in the Bible! Lauren expanded her solo career to full-time. Please pray for them as they mourn their father. One journalist commented that the unlikely match was analogous to Ralph Stanley joining Joan Baez. Southern gospel music has been a staple of the American gospel music scene for over a century, and has been a significant influence on other genres of music, including country music and bluegrass. The ultimate power and importance of Harrison's book comes from its ability to provoke questions about how marginalized people can appropriate previously heteronormative institutions (like marriage or the nuclear family) and create their own meanings and identities, orthodoxy be damned. Best. RESOLVED, That we pray that the true peace of our Lord Jesus Christ will reign in us such that the next generation will see the gospel not only in the counter-cultural nature of our verbal witness but also in the counter-cultural love and fidelity of our marriages. Webb and McCrackens divorce surfaced at a Southern Baptist sexuality conference with a question addressed to Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. radio, training, contemporary Christian music and a globally As a teen, Kenny joined with his father and brother Mark to form the southern gospel group The Bishops. Southern Gospel Music Guild: Musician Of The Year (2007) Solo Discography hi-res 1986 And Now. And southern gospel performers still told the occasional racist joke on stage as late as the 1980s. In this study, we'll see Jesus perform multiple miracles - including Our most pressing need is almost never our greatest need. The group released numerous albums and won many awards. Jeff Stice ( Skylite Records /SLP-6370): Chariots Of Fire; Still; When God Dips His Love; In The Garden; Goodbye, World, Goodbye; Bye And Bye; You Light Up My Life; When We All Get To Heaven; The One For Me; Alleluia, Jesus Reigns. Who He chose John's Gospel opens by revealing Jesus Christ as God. southern gospel divorcesspecialized structures of banana. The kids, then ages 15, 16, and 17 were singing a capella in an empty civic center after being rejected by a local record company who told them to go back home and forget about trying to make it in "the business. ?, 201?-Present)Jesse Stockman (????-???? how to equip shoes in 2k22 myteam / bombas distribution center / southern gospel divorces. He argues that southern gospel's cultural function, if not all of its professional and commercial infrastructure, developed during the social, cultural, and economic upheavals unleashed by the Civil War that wrecked an old agrarian world and led to the rise of the New South's business ethos. After Lily was born in Germany, the Fishmans immigrated to New York. He brings his book to life with ethnographic thick-description, particularly in his opening chapter on the live experience of southern gospel music, but mostly avoids the pitfalls of documentary work's tendency to view its subject as a cultural and temporal Other. "If orthodox evangelical popular culture has a vested interest in portraying the gay-gospel connection as a sinful paradox," Harrison persuasively argues, "it is no small part an attempt to efface the fact that sinner and saint alike come to the music as nonconformistsreal or imagined, gay or straight, and everything betweendrawn to southern gospel's dramatic rendering of spiritual marginality and social misfittedness" (148). They are an extremely inventive group that pushes the envelope with their music, and their music is never out of style. When Lily grew up, she began singing as half of a folk duo called Lily and Maria. And what does Jesus expect in return? He divides all of human history, wrote the best-selling book in the world, made the claim that He was God, healed the sick and raised the dead, turned the world upside down with 12 common men, and taught a Gospel of salvation that was so radical He was murdered for it. southern gospel divorces. "Through southern gospel," he argues, "evangelicals develop the capacity to think and act as modern pluralists or situational relativists when necessary, while retaining their identification with antimodern religious traditions that notionally believe in timeless, unchanging absolutes" (3). The disciples become apostles as they learn the vital faith lesson that Jesus, in His own words, is worth EVERYTHING. Well announce arrangements as soon as they are made. As of 2015, both Gerald and Kathy are married. Terms of Use |. It is true that southern gospel music borrowed from bluegrass and country music (among many other genres, including jazz). Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Sanneh profiles the young gospel phenomenon Tonx and his fall from grace in the black gospel world. Then Sings My Soul was released just one month before Anthony Heilbut's The Fan Who Knew Too Much, portions of which open a door into what he calls the "secret closet" of gays in black gospel music. Jerry had been in a hospital ICU, suffering from symptoms of Covid. continued to perform at Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park and tour You'll also learn Where do you find comfort when the world doesn't make sense? Joe and Lily would divorce in 1998, but Lily continued to perform with the group. Harrison acknowledges this ugly strain of racism coursing through southern gospel's past yet he sees it as a part of a broader cultural dynamic that pits evangelical Christians with their pious adherence to religious orthodoxy and moral absolutes against the liberal and secular forces dominating the modern world. Harrison suggests that the existence of black southern gospel groups like Teddy Huffam and the Gems, who performed from the 1970s into the early 1990s, and the popularity of black authored songs among white gospel fans and singers, should temper the emphasis on "black-white polarities," which only obscures "our understanding of cultural dynamics submerged beneath the surface" that gave rise to an explicity "southern" gospel genre (103). Funderburk left the Cathedrals in 1989 to join Perfect Heart. What do Jesus and His Word teach about divorce and remarriage? Talley has since become persona non grata in the southern gospel music world despite his admission of "sin" and his willingness to do penance through "reparative" therapy (138139). The Original Hinsons: Ronnie, Chris Freeman, Larry, Bo Hinson. http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/rd10q/6158/still_captivated_by_southern_gospel. Joyce Martin Sanders (b. January 6, 1968) lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband Paul, and she has two children. Joe and Lily would divorce in 1998, but Lily continued to perform with the group. At each stage in southern gospel's growth, performers and industry leaders tried to maintain a delicate balance between the sacred and the secular, between maintaining tradition and embracing professionalism. Harrison argues that Heilbut's assertion "perpetuates a heterocentric perspective that reduces nonheterosexuality to an oversimple monolith defined by its most orthodox gestures or queerest tropes" (142143). As of July 2015, there is no official statement from any family members on how the divorce of Gerald and Kathy Crabb affected the Crabb family, but soon after the divorce the family separated into multiple ministries. How many Grammy Awards has Martina McBride won? Radio sort of ruled the conversation. [4], Judy Martin Hess (b. The Fascinating Tale Of John Lennons Duel Citizenship. My daddy is no longer sick and he is completely healed and reunited with his parents and sister. Several of us sat down with him one night in late August and confronted him about the whole situation, Smith said. Scott L. Matthews reviews Then Sings My Soul: The Culture of Southern Gospel Music (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2012) by Douglas Harrison. Regardless of which group you fall into, it is important to remember that everyone is entitled to their own privacy. )Thomas Wywrot (2008-????). during the off-season. "Southern Gospel Sissies: Evangelical Music, Queer Spirituality, and the Plays of Del Shores. Mar 01, 2023 09:02 am. The kids started singing along with their father and The Crabb Family was formed. Their next single was "From The Depths Of My Heart." However, if you are a fan of southern gospel music, it is important to be open-minded and accepting of all artists, regardless of their sexual orientation. Early on, the three Isaacs children recorded a project billing them as the Isaacs Trio. In the 1960s and 1970s, television broadcasts spread white gospel music into US living rooms while Elvis Presley toured with gospel quartets. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Here Harrison counters the hagiography of industry leaders in the 1990s that characterized Vaughn as the genre's true founder and patron saint. During this time, the three each recorded a solo album. While we both acknowledge our own human sinfulness, Derek has taken full responsibility for the events which led to this decision, the statement said. How many southern gospel artists are divorced? Why was the decision Roe v. Wade important for feminists? Christian music was more of a machine, Turner said, noting musicians like Grant and Sandi Patty faced radio boycotts after their divorces. As Harrison says, southern gospel would not exist without "queers and their contributions as fans, songwriters, performers, producers, players, and industry executives." Averyfineline: Criticism and Commentary on Southern Gospel Music, The Gospel Church and the Ruining of Gay Lives: An Interview with Anthony Heilbut, Cover of Walter B. Seale and Adger M. Pace's ". The other main theme Harrison examines is how southern gospel, from its cultural origins during Reconstruction to the contemporary Bill Gaither and his Homecoming Friends phenomenon, has drawn upon nostalgia for an idyllic past and hope for a redemptive future to provide solace in the present. With eight albums of her own, McCracken also wrote songs for Caedmons Call and for her husband. Goodman's overtly emotional and bombastic style of singing, along with lyrics that resonated with the plight of many queer gospel fans, made her an icon. Lance Ledbetter, Jesse P. Karlsberg, etal. "No Regrets Yet" peaked at #36 on the Billboard charts in February 2004, but the label and Isaacs parted ways a couple months later with the second recording left unfinished. For an audience in a gay bar, writes Harrison, gospel drag "transmutates the gospel classic into a call for action on the part of the audience" (144). ." [1] (Which included their most popular and well-known mega-hit The Promise). During the 1980s to the early 2000s, Christian music was much more centralized, said Matthew Paul Turner, a Nashville-based author and former editor of CCM magazine. Staff 5 years ago 0 14 mins. To define oneself as "southern," as a "good ole boy," as a "redneck"to embrace southern cultural symbolsoften constituted acts of rebellion and reaction against the nation's political and economic elite and of "resistance against high taxes, liberals, racial integration, women's liberation, and hippies," as historian Bruce Schulman has noted.1Dominic Sandbrook, Mad As Hell: The Crisis of the 1970s and the Rise of the Populist Right (New York: Random House, 2012), 135137; Bruce Schulman, The Seventies: The Great Shift in American Culture, Society, and Politics (De Capo Press, 2002), 117. tippy('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1490_1_1', { content: jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1490_1_1').html(), placement: 'bottom', theme: 'sosp', arrow: false, allowHTML: true }); Assertions of whiteness animated many forms of cultural expression during this time of populist backlash, but Harrison says he found "no evidence that 'southern' gospel gained popularity primarily or even implicitly as a racialized term" even while he provides evidence of a persistent strain of racism coursing through white southern gospel during the twentieth century (97). What bothers me is that among conservative Christian circles, people would think that maybe Sandra didnt try hard enough for her marriage or that she is somehow at fault, Smith said. Is following Jesus really that urgent of an issue? White southern gospel music seems like a strange source of pleasure for a "gay, secular humanist academic," as Douglas Harrison identifies himself (17). These songs frequently refer to gospel singers who have died and gone on to heaven, as well as the lyrics, which are generally more religious than those in Black Gospel. Twenty-five years ago, evangelicals were less likely to be divorced than the average American. The alleged extramarital affair that apparently led to the breakup, however, may be more problematic. )Adam Steffey (????-???? These issues and questions make up the emotional and analytical heart of Harrison's fascinating book, even though he addresses them in depth only in his final chapter: "Southern Gospel in the Key of Queer.". Southern gospel tenor Kirk Talley was outed after the FBI arrested a man who tried to blackmail Talley with indiscreet photos the singer had posted of himself on a gay chat site. A southern gospel group, The Crabb Family was founded by Gerald Crabb and Kathy Crabb. )Kevin Haynie (????-???? History. Discover the amazing true story of man born blind who was miraculously How secure is our salvation? Please continue to pray as we try and heal from this huge hit., Southern Gospel News (SGN Scoops) Coastal Media - All Rights Reserved 2023. and to fill a void in recreational music for musically inclined Christians" (5354). Gloria told Bill that he had to let them sing in the video. Rather than resting in a single niche among the numerous Christian music genres, the Martins have rummaged freely through a stack of style books, grabbing whatever interests them. Taken together, these political forces and cultural expressions constitute a backlash against the social and political upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s that left the nation's white working class searching for a sense of identity and belonging in a country they no longer recognized. Kathy Crabb acted was the owner and manager of the group. The conservative evangelical, as Harrison acknowledges, can summon a persecuted identity when it is convenient and not have to worry about actual discrimination. Wake up to the day's most important news. Vince Gill produced several tracks and it was critically acclaimed. Discover the powerful connection between living in faith in the present Did you know that the Lord heals 3 different ways? 2000 Southern Gospel Treasury Series (Word Records): God's Gonna Send Revival; . By 1910 he had created the first professional quartet, underwrote the first recordings of white gospel music in 1921, and started the first radio station focused on shape-note singing in 1923 in addition to his publishing company, Vaughn Music. WHEREAS, The Bible reveals that marriage is a gospel mystery, pointing to Christs union with His church (Ephesians 5:22-32); and, WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that marriage was established by God in the beginning to be a permanent one-flesh union (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:1-9); and, WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus commands us that what God has joined together, let not man separate (Mark 10:9); and, WHEREAS, The biblical story shows us that one of the lamentable aspects of sin is the destruction of marriages and families, a destruction seen from the Fall until this present darkness; and, WHEREAS, The rampant divorce rate in our culture has come with great social and economic cost, with women and children suffering disproportionately in ways that are incalculable; and, WHEREAS, We have affirmed in our confession of faith our belief in the sanctity and permanence of marriage; and, WHEREAS, Some studies have indicated that conservative Protestants in the United States of America are divorcing at the same rate, if not at higher rates, than the general population; and, WHEREAS, Some studies also indicate that areas where Southern Baptist churches predominate in number often have higher divorce rates than areas we would define as unchurched and in need of evangelical witness; and, WHEREAS, Even the most expansive view of the biblical exceptions allowing for divorce and remarriage would rule out many, if not most, of the divorces in our churches; and, WHEREAS, The acceleration in rates of divorce in Southern Baptist churches has not come through a shift in theological conviction about scriptural teaching on divorce but rather through cultural accommodation; and, WHEREAS, We have been prophetic in confronting assaults in the outside culture on Gods design for marriage while rarely speaking with the same alarm and force to a scandal that has become all too commonplace in our own churches; and, WHEREAS, We do not serve those who are hurting from divorce by speaking to them only in therapeutic terms rather than in terms of both repentance and forgiveness; now, therefore, be it, RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, acknowledge the complicity of many among us for too often failing to show the world the meaning of the gospel through marital fidelity; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we express our conviction that a denomination defined theologically by our belief in the authority and inerrancy of Holy Scripture ought to proclaim the whole counsel of God, especially when the Bible confronts our own patterns of sin; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we express our further conviction that a denomination defined missiologically ought to recognize how damaging Southern Baptist accommodation to the divorce culture is to our global witness for Christ; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we express our further conviction that a denomination seeking Gods blessing in revival and reformation ought to address the spiritual wreckage left in our Southern Baptist churches by our own divorce rates and our silence about the same; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we call on our churches to proclaim the Word of God on the permanence of marriage, and to provide ongoing marriage enrichment opportunities, in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and Gods abhorrence of divorce; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we call on our churches to unite in marriage only those who are biblically qualified to be married to one another and who demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of lifelong love and fidelity; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we call on our churches in our wedding services to maintain the gravity of the vows being undertaken, not simply as a token of a couples romance but as a covenant before God, until death do them part; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we call on our churches to minister to couples and families in crisis through counseling, mentorship, and, where necessary, through biblical church discipline; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we call on our churches to proclaim Gods mercy and grace to all peopleincluding those who have been divorced without biblical groundsdue to the truth that the blood of Jesus can atone for any sin and can cleanse any conscience; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we call on our churches to have special compassion for and energetic ministry to those who have been left in the wake of family brokenness; and be it further, RESOLVED, That we urge all Southern Baptists in troubled or faltering marriages to seek godly assistance and, where possible, reconciliation; and be it finally.
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