Baptists Urge Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Last week, Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission urged Republicans in the U.S. Senate to filibuster the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – the policy which prohibits

I’ve never known of a better excuse for a filibuster than to stop the Congress of the United States from essentially destroying the greatest military force our nation has ever known.” said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

However, not all Baptists are opposed to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  On April 28, 2010, the Alliance of Baptists, a group of progressive Baptists, joined other faith groups in supporting the repeal of DADT via a letter to members of Congress.  According to the letter, since DADT was adopted in 1993, more than 13,500 gay and lesbian service members have been discharged because of their sexual orientation.  The letter states that an estimate 66,000 gays and lesbians current serve in the military “and are compelled to live dishonestly and in fear of termination for reasons unrelated to their performance.”

Here is a snippet from the letter signed by the Alliance of Baptists:

We write because we strongly believe this policy of government-sanctioned discrimination is morally wrong and entirely contrary to the teachings and values of our faith communities….As faith leaders, we deal routinely with the damage such discrimination and fear imposes on our lesbian and gay sisters and brothers and their families.  We believe the laws of our country should reflect the highest regard for integrity and care for our neighbors as we care for ourselves.  Repeal of DADT will finally allow all service members to contribute their talents and skills to our country openly and honestly.

We urge you to recognize in law what the majority of Americans – Republicans, Democrats and Independents of many faiths – have recognized in their hearts: this discriminatory law is unjust and wrong and must end this year.

Bob Allen has covered the Alliance of Baptists support of the DADT repeal over at Associated Baptist Press.  Here are a couple of snippets:

DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — A progressive Baptist group that endorses military chaplains is supporting repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

While a number of conservative Christian groups have argued lifting the ban would infringe on the religious liberty of chaplains who believe homosexuality is immoral, Chris Copeland of the Alliance of Baptists said it would “benefit our current and future chaplains who desire to minister without prejudice to all military personnel.”

…Copeland, however, said repealing DADT would “encourage honesty among service members who choose to serve voluntarily but who do not want to lie about their sexual orientation.”

“Most chaplains endorsed by the Alliance of Baptists would welcome this change in policy and see it as an opportunity to minister more fully and effectively with all military personnel be they heterosexual or homosexual,” Copeland wrote. “They would be grateful to provide pastoral care and counseling to all military members and their families. To offer worship ministry that is ecumenical, interfaith, and fully inclusive would be seen as a ‘holy’ honor alongside one’s military duty.”

As a denomination that welcomes and affirms persons of all sexual orientations, Copeland added: “If DADT is repealed, lesbian and gay chaplains who are called to military service would have the option of being endorsed by the Alliance of Baptists and serving their denomination and country with distinction.”

Note that the historian referenced in Allen’s article is yours truly.  My history of these progressive Baptist dissenters can be found on the Alliance of Baptists website here.