1. Southern Baptist Stance On Gambling Game
2. Southern Baptist Beliefs On Gambling
3. Southern Baptist Views On Gambling

Paul Chitwood (born 1970) is an American Baptist minister who is the 13th and current president of the International Mission Board, serving since 2018. He was previously executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (2011–2018) and president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (2005–2006).

Southern Baptists affirm alcohol, drug abstinence-By Dwayne Hastings ATLANTA, June 15-Southern Baptists expressed overwhelming support for a lifestyle of abstinence from alcohol and other drugs by approving the report of a drug task force June 15 during their annual meeting in Atlanta.

Born in LaFollette, Tennessee, Chitwood graduated from Cumberland College (now the University of the Cumberlands) in Williamsburg, Kentucky, in 1992 and began pastoring his first church a year later. He later continued his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, earning two graduate degrees. He joined the seminary's faculty in 2002 and was also chosen as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board that year. He was chairman of the board from 2008 until his departure in 2010.

In 2005, Chitwood was elected to a one-year term as president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC). He was seen as the more theologically conservative of the two candidates for the office. At the expiration of his term, he continued his work as pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Washington, Kentucky, and with the International Mission Board. In 2011, he was chosen as executive director of the KBC. He oversaw a reorganization of the convention that was credited with reversing a decade-long slide in baptisms and membership. He was an advocate for Sunrise Children's Services, a foster care and adoption agency operated by the KBC. Under Chitwood, Sunrise tripled the number of children it served, and Chitwood and his wife became foster parents for a young girl in Sunrise's care, eventually adopting her. On November 15, 2018, Chitwood accepted the position of President of the International Mission Board (IMB). He was immediately confronted with a report of past unreported or mishandled sexual abuse cases within the IMB, and promised to implement the recommendations of an independent law firm charged with investigating the reports.

Throughout his ministry, Chitwood has opposed the employment of homosexual people by Baptist churches and organizations, expansion of gambling in Kentucky, and the expansion of sales of alcoholic beverages.

• 2Work with the Southern Baptist Convention

Early life and ministry[edit]

Paul Chitwood was born in LaFollette, Tennessee in 1970, one of three sons of Thomas Chitwood.^[1] His parents divorced when he was two years old, and his father, who maintained custody of Chitwood and his brothers, moved to Jellico, Tennessee.^[1] After being invited by the deacons of First Baptist Church in Jellico, the family become regular attenders.^[1] Chitwood's father, younger brother Dana, and Chitwood himself became professing Christians and were baptized into the church.^[1] Despite a fear of public speaking, Chitwood became a minister and preached his first sermon on a Wednesday night at his home church after the pastor had resigned.^[1][2] A car accident he was involved in as a teenager strengthened his resolve to pursue ministry.^[2]

In 1992, Chitwood earned a Bachelor of Science degree in religion with a minor in biblical language at Cumberland College (now the University of the Cumberlands) in Williamsburg, Kentucky.^[3][4] He later attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he earned the Master of Divinity in 1995 and a doctorate degree in 2001.^[5]

Chitwood became pastor of South Fork Baptist Church in Owenton, Kentucky, in 1993.^[5] In 1995, he left South Fork and became pastor of First Baptist Church in Owenton, serving until 1999.^[5] That year, he became pastor of First Baptist Church in Somerset, Kentucky.^[5] In 2003, he left to pastor First Baptist Church in Mount Washington, Kentucky, a congregation of approximately 2,000 people.^[5][6] While pastoring in Mount Washington, he opposed a local option ordinance to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sundays.^[7]

Chitwood married his high school girlfriend, Michelle Elaine Herron, in 1993.^[2][4] The couple has two biological children: a son, Daniel, and a daughter, Anna.^[8] They have a daughter, Cai, who they adopted from an orphanage in China, and a daughter, Lilly, who they adopted in 2018 after serving as her foster parents for three years through Sunrise Children's Services, a ministry of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.^[8]

Work with the Southern Baptist Convention[edit]

In 2002, Chitwood joined the faculty of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.^[3] That same year, he became a trustee of the International Mission Board, and he was chosen president of the Kentucky state pastors' conference.^[5] In 2008, he was chosen by his fellow trustees as chair of the IMB board of trustees.^[3] Chitwood left the IMB board of trustees in 2010.^[3]

President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention[edit]

Chitwood was elected to a one-year term as first vice-president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention in 2004.^[5] The following year, he was a candidate to succeed outgoing president Herschel York as president.^[9] The conservative York had been elected the previous year in a close vote of 686 to 627 over Rusty Ellison, who was seen as a moderate candidate.^[9] Chitwood was seen as the conservative candidate against another moderate, Robert DeFoor.^[10] DeFoor published a letter decrying the rise of fundamentalism within the KBC and saying that Chitwood was the choice of the fundamentalists; he later clarified that he did not know Chitwood personally very well, and was not accusing him of being a fundamentalist.^[10] Chitwood called DeFoor's comments 'divisive'.^[10] Chitwood won the election by a vote of 974 to 601.^[11]

During Chitwood's term as president, the University of the Cumberlands – a KBC-affiliated university and Chitwood's alma mater – was criticized for expelling a student who posted on MySpace that he was homosexual, in violation of the school's code of conduct, which stated: 'any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles (including sex outside marriage and homosexuality) may be suspended or asked to withdraw.'^[12] Critics asked then-Governor Ernie Fletcher to use his line-item veto power to remove an $11 million state budget allocation for a new pharmacy school at the University of the Cumberlands because of the expulsion, but Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister, declined.^[13] Chitwood supported the expulsion and Fletcher's decision not to veto the allocated funding.^[12]

Executive Director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention[edit]

In 2010, then-president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention Don Mathis asked Chitwood to consider becoming a candidate for executive director of the KBC, replacing retiring executive director Bill Mackey.^[2][4] Chitwood declined, but agreed to serve on the 15-member search committee.^[2] After the committee reached an impasse in the search process, the committee chair asked Chitwood to reconsider.^[2] Chitwood agreed and resigned from the search committee.^[2] On May 12, the committee recommended Chitwood for the position, and on June 2, he was elected by a vote of 88–7.^[2] He officially took office July 1, 2011.^[2]

In May 2012, Chitwood announced a major reorganization of the KBC, focusing more resources on starting new churches, strengthening existing churches, and reaching individuals who did not attend church.^[14] In 2015, KBC churches reported an increase in church membership and number of baptisms, reversing a decade-long trend of decline.^[15] In 2016, the KBC announced that member churches had contributed $22.3 million to the Southern Baptist Convention through the Cooperative Program, more than any other year in the organization's history.^[16]

During his time as executive director, Kentucky GovernorSteve Beshear proposed legalizing casino gambling in the state as a means of raising revenue for the state treasury.^[17] Chitwood opposed this effort, recording an ad broadcast on Christian radio stations and distributing a video to Southern Baptist churches in Kentucky urging them to resist the governor's proposal.^[17]

In 2014, controversy arose in the Kentucky Baptist Convention when Bill Smithwick, CEO of the KBC-operated Sunrise Children's Services, proposed dropping the restriction on the employment of homosexual people by Sunrise.^[18] Although Sunrise's board ultimately rejected the proposal and Smithwick resigned as CEO, many Southern Baptist churches in the state withheld their usual donations to the ministry out of fear that the proposal would succeed.^[18] Following Smithwick's resignation, Chitwood announced a fundraising campaign intended to raise $5 million to make up for the shortfall produced by the withheld offerings.^[18]

Chitwood and his wife, Michelle, led a campaign called 'Be the One', urging Kentucky Baptists to become more involved in helping care for abused and neglected children.^[19] During his tenure as KBC executive director, Sunrise Children's Services expanded to serve 1,300 children, triple the number served at the beginning of his tenure.^[19]

Southern Baptist Stance On Gambling Game

In 2015, Chitwood was the chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention's Committee on Nominations.^[5]

During Chitwood's term, Campbellsville University severed its covenant agreements with the KBC in order to gain more autonomy over its affairs. In 2017, Chitwood decried the Campbellsville's decision, along with a similar previous decision by Georgetown College: 'Making off with untold millions of mission dollars invested in the institutions over the generations, these schools have not only broken their promises, they have betrayed their mission.'^[14] In 2018, Chitwood's alma mater, the University of the Cumberlands, also asked to dissolve its covenant agreement with the KBC.^[20]

In 2017, Chitwood opined that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an organization to which some Southern Baptist churches also belong, would be taking a step in the wrong direction if it were to soften its stance on hiring practicing homosexuals.^[21] The KBC formed a committee to monitor the CBF's policies at its meeting in November 2017, and CBF lifted its ban on employing homosexual people in February 2018.^[21] At the KBC annual meeting in November 2018, the convention expelled 'more than a dozen' churches who continued to support CBF after the ban was lifted.^[21] In a subsequent interview, Chitwood said 'the convention could not support groups that 'embrace alternative lifestyles' and adopt policies that 'redefine what is right and wrong' when it comes to Baptist beliefs that homosexuality is a sin.'^[21]

President of the International Mission Board[edit]

On November 6, 2018, he announced his candidacy for president of the International Mission Board, a position vacated by the resignation of David Platt in September 2018.^[22][23] He was endorsed by Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board; and Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director of the Woman's Missionary Union.^[23] On November 15, he was elected by a unanimous vote of the IMB's board of trustees and took office immediately.^[5][24]

At the 2019 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, a report was presented by the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty regarding allegations of sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention generally and the IMB generally.^[25] The report, commissioned in 2018 before Chitwood's election as IMB president, found 'a number of significant concerns with IMB's handling of past cases' and contained several recommendations for policy changes aimed at preventing a recurrence of such incidents.^[25] On the day the report was released, Chitwood published a statement on the IMB web site apologizing for the past incidents and promising to adopt the policy recommendations contained in the report.^[25][26]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdeWilkey, Lonny (February 19, 2019). 'Tennessee Ties'. Baptist and Reflector. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
2. ^ ^abcdefghiWimsatt, Alex (June 22, 2011). 'Chitwood selected to lead statewide group'. The Oberton News.
3. ^ ^abcd'Leadership'. International Mission Board. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
4. ^ ^abc'Local Cumberlands Grad Named KBC Executive Director'. Targeted News Service. June 8, 2011.
5. ^ ^abcdefghiMcGowan, Julie (January 23, 2019). 'Chitwood to be Installed as IMB President Feb. 6'. The Pathway. Missouri Baptist Convention. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
6. ^Schreiner, Bruce (January 6, 2008). 'Casino proposal faces heated Legislature talks'. Henderson Gleaner.
7. ^'MW goes with mock liquor election'. The Pioneer News. November 29, 2010.
8. ^ ^abAlford, Roger. 'Kentucky girl receives most wanted Christmas gift, family'. The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
9. ^ ^abLockwood, Frank E. (November 12, 2005). 'BAPTISTS' ELECTION TURNING DIVISIVE - MODERATE CANDIDATE WARNS OF TAKEOVER BY FUNDAMENTALISTS'. Lexington Herald-Leader.
10. ^ ^abcLockwood, Frank E. (November 14, 2005). 'BAPTISTS TO ELECT NEW PRESIDENT - FUNDAMENTALISM GETTING ATTENTION'. The Kentucky Post.
11. ^Lockwood, Frank E. (November 16, 2005). 'CONSERVATIVE PASTOR TO HEAD KY. BAPTISTS - CHITWOOD DEFEATS MODERATE CANDIDATE, PLEDGES UNITY'. Lexington Herald-Leader.
12. ^ ^abLockwood, Frank E. (April 15, 2006). 'BAPTIST LEADER DEFENDS DECISION - SCRIPTURES CITED AS BASIS FOR EXPULSION GAY GROUP PLANS RALLY'. Lexington Herald-Leader.
13. ^Brammer, Jack; Lockwood, Frank (April 25, 2006). 'STUDENT EXPULSION IGNITED ISSUE - PHARMACY SCHOOL'. Lexington Herald-Leader.
14. ^ ^abAlford, Roger (May 11, 2017). 'Baptist leader offers assessment of state's reorganization - Chitwood cites improvements of 'KBC 2.0''. The News-Enterprise.
15. ^'Baptists see rise in baptisms, members, giving'. Claiborne Progress. March 8, 2015.
16. ^'Kentucky sets record in giving to Southern Baptist Convention'. Glasgow Daily Times. October 4, 2016.
17. ^ ^abSchreiner, Bruce (January 29, 2014). 'Ky. Baptist leader condemns expanded gambling'. The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
18. ^ ^abcLovan, Dylan (March 6, 2014). 'Gay hiring fears hurt Baptist agency fundraising'. The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
19. ^ ^ab'Jellico native named president of SBC missions'. LaFollette Press. January 2, 2019.
20. ^'Cumberlands, KBC Take Steps to Dissolve Covenant Agreement'. Targeted News Service. October 26, 2018.
21. ^ ^abcdKenning, Chris (November 16, 2018). 'State Baptist group boots Kentucky churches for supporting LGBTQ hires'. Henderson Gleaner.
22. ^Mattingly, Justin (November 18, 2018). 'International Mission Board selects new president - Richmond-based International Mission Board names new president'. Richmond Times-Dispatch.
23. ^ ^abLovell, Ann (November 15, 2018). 'Kentucky's Paul Chitwood to lead IMB, world's largest missions group'. Kentucky Today. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
24. ^Roach, David (November 15, 2018). 'Paul Chitwood elected unanimously as IMB president'. Baptist Press. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
25. ^ ^abcNeal, James (June 11, 2019). 'Emmanuel Enid's Burleson calls to adopt statement critical of Southern Baptists' handling of sexual abuse'. Enid News & Eagle.
26. ^Smith, Sarah (May 24, 2019). 'Abuse probe urges Baptist affiliate to reform rules; Missionary group pledges to implement changes on reporting claims to police'. Houston Chronicle.

Describing the Baptist view on homosexuality is difficult due to the multitude of Baptist organizations, each with a slightly different doctrinal statement. The issue is further compounded by the large number of autonomous Independent Baptist churches which are not part of an organization and have their own doctrinal statements and beliefs.

• 2Positions of churches

Basic beliefs[edit]

As with most issues, there is a diversity of views of members of Baptist churches on homosexuality. Some denominations remain more conservative, believing in what they describe as 'traditional' marriage between one man and one woman. Other more liberal denominations allow local and autonomous congregations to determine their own regional policies. Thus, denominations are generally divided on the issue and reflect a diversity of opinions.^[1]

Nevertheless, Baptists generally believe that homosexuality must be an issue that is approached with compassion and love. Dr. Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, emphasizes that: 'Our response to persons involved in homosexuality must be marked by genuine compassion. But a central task of genuine compassion is telling the truth, and the Bible reveals a true message we must convey. Those seeking to contort and subvert the Bible’s message are not responding to homosexuals with compassion. To lie is never compassionate — and their lie leads unto death.' ^[2]

A relatively small, albeit growing, number of Baptists and congregations are open to the acceptance of homosexual relationships.^[3][4] This openness may, however, be based on sustaining a beneficial relationship than a change in the teachings of the Holy Bible.

Al Sharpton, a Baptist minister and Civil rights leader, during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 said that asking whether gays or lesbians should be able to get married was insulting: 'That's like saying you give blacks, or whites, or Latinos the right to shack up – but not get married [...] It's like asking 'do I support black marriage or white marriage'. . . . The inference of the question is that gays are not like other human beings'.^[5]

Positions of churches[edit]

Several organizations and denominations of Baptist churches have issued statements and resolutions about homosexuality.

Conservative position[edit]

• The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Baptist denomination globally with 15 million members (mainly in the United States), has issued several resolutions in which it rejects homosexuality as a lifestyle and refers to it as a 'manifestation of a depraved nature', 'a perversion of divine standards and as a violation of nature and natural affections' and 'an abomination in the eyes of God.'^[6] It opposes same-sex marriages and equivalent unions.^[7] The Convention has urged churches not to show any approval of homosexuality.^[8] The Convention however also holds that 'while the Bible condemns such practice as sin, it also teaches forgiveness and transformation, upon repentance, through Jesus Christ our Lord.'^[9]
• The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the second largest Baptist church globally and predominantly African-American, released an official position statement in 2012 that defines marriage as the exclusive union of a man and a woman.^[10] A subsequent position statement in 2014 prohibited the convention's chaplains from officiating same-sex marriages or civil unions stating that they 'are not to participate in any activity that implies or condones same sex marriage or same sex union.'^[11] In 2006 the organization stated that a majority of their member churches would hold that homosexuality is not a legitimate expression of God's will and would be opposed to ordaining active homosexuals or lesbians for any type of ministry in their church.^[12]
• The American Baptist Churches USA, a mainline American Baptist denomination of around 1.2 million members, officially defines marriage as the union of 'one man and one woman' and holds 'that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching,'^[13][14] but advocates dialogue on the issue because some individual congregations hold contrary views.^[15]
• The Australian Baptist Ministries supports the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, and rejects moves to extend the definition to include same sex relationships.^[16]
• Independent Fundamental Baptist churches, while not an official denomination, largely, if not completely, are opposed to homosexuality in all of its forms and believe marriage is strictly between a man and a woman.

Neutral position[edit]

• The Progressive National Baptist Convention, a mainline predominantly African American denomination, does not have an official position and, like many Baptist denominations, allows individual congregations to determine their own view.^[17] As a result, some congregations have performed blessings and marriages for same-sex couples.
• The Baptist Union of Great Britain with 140,000 individuals holds a nuanced view. It says that same sex couples 'should not suffer discrimination because of their sexual orientation', while affirming that Christians who believe that same sex relationships are wrong should not be forced to compromise on what they believe as a tenet of their faith.^[18]
• The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a relatively small American-based network of Baptist churches, does not have an official policy on homosexuality (or other social issues). It allows individual organizations and churches to support or fund gay rights advocacy if they so choose, but it is not required or prohibited.^[19]

Southern Baptist Beliefs On Gambling

Liberal position[edit]

• The Network of Baptists affirming Lesbian & Gay Christians is a small UK network of Baptists who seek to support lesbians and gay men and people concerned about their sexuality in the church.
• The Alliance of Baptists is a small theologically progressive, American Baptist denomination which supports same-sex marriage and is open to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender believers.^[20]
• The Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists is made up of Baptist churches, organizations, and individuals who welcome and affirm people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion within Baptist faith communities.^[3] This group is made up of almost 100 churches and organizations among the American Baptist Churches in the USA and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.^[21]
• The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., American Baptist Churches USA, and Progressive National Baptist Convention also have congregations and ministers who take a liberal position on the issue.^[22]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Southern Baptist Views On Gambling

1. ^'Split among American Baptists over homosexuality is final'. Baptist Press. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
2. ^'Archived copy'(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-07-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ ^abThe Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
4. ^Network of Baptists affirming Lesbian & Gay Christians
5. ^Sharpton Chides Black Churches Over Homophobia, Gay MarriageArchived 2009-02-28 at the Wayback Machine, Dyana Bagby, Houston Voice, January 24, 2006
6. ^Resolution On Homosexuality June 1988 on sbc.net
7. ^On Same-Sex Marriage June 2003 on sbc.net
8. ^Resolution On Homosexuality June 1976 on sbc.net
9. ^Resolution On Homosexuality June 1985 on sbc.net]
10. ^A Statement on the Same-sex Marriage Issue, Voting and Christian Responsibility National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. June 21, 2012.
11. ^SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND RELATED ACTIVITIES National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. January 27, 2014.
12. ^FAQ on nationalbaptist.com Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
13. ^'Identity Statement (2005)'. American Baptist Churches USA. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
14. ^AMERICAN BAPTIST POLICY STATEMENT ON FAMILY LIFE June 1984.
15. ^'American Baptist Churches USA: Responses/Actions pertaining homosexuality' on abc-usa.orgArchived 2007-08-14 at the Wayback Machine.
16. ^'Australian Baptists View on Same Sex Marriage'. Australian Baptist Ministries. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
17. ^Salmon, Jacqueline L. (2007-08-19). 'Rift Over Gay Unions Reflects Battle New to Black Churches'. The Washington Post. ISSN0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
18. ^Issues raised by the Equality Act (sexual orientation on baptist.org.uk
19. ^'CBF to approve funding for pro-homosexual groups; gay church literature featured in CBF exhibit'. Baptist Press. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
20. ^Statement on Same Sex MarriageArchived 2007-06-07 at the Wayback Machine April 17, 2004 on allianceofbaptists.org
21. ^'Member Congregations'. Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
22. ^'Detroit Black Churches Openly Accept Gays, Others Denounce - BLAC Detroit - June 2014'. www.blacdetroit.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.

• New Testament Bible. 1 Timothy 1:9 (NASB, KJV, NKJV, NIV)