BGCT Royal Lane Statement

Dallas: Today Randel Everett, Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas released the following statement concerning the BGCT and its relationship with Royal Lane Baptist Church of Dallas. The stress on the relationship developed after an article in the Dallas Morning News reported Royal Lane had changed its website, and some of its leaders had made public statements about the church’s position on homosexuality.

In response Dr. Everett wrote:

Recent reports concerning Royal Lane Baptist Church implied that the church’s position on homosexual behavior was clearly different from the historic theological position of The Baptist General Convention of Texas. The theological position on marriage, and specifically on homosexual behavior, has not changed within our 160 year Texas Baptist history. Because of this, the leadership of the BGCT asked to meet with the church’s leadership to clarify their position.

On Thursday March 11, the pastor of Royal Lane and one of the deacons met with BGCT leadership about the situation. During the discussion it was learned that the church had taken no actions on these decisions, and questions about sexual orientation never came up in deacon selection. However because of the serious nature of the public remarks attributed to church leadership, with consultation with the officers of the Executive Board and the President of the BGCT, I asked the church to remove the partnership with the BGCT from any of its church’s publications and said we would escrow any money received from Royal Lane in 2010 until such a time that the church has clarified its position reflecting that it is in agreement with the theological position of the BGCT.

How can we share the hope of Christ with all people and at the same time reflect the righteousness of Christ? How can we welcome everyone to our churches and preach that all of us must be rescued from the destructiveness of sin by Christ? This is obviously a challenging situation that all of our churches face.

The deacons of Royal Lane Baptist Church met on Sunday, March 14, to discuss the matter and voted to ask the church to clarify its position on this issue. It is my prayer that Royal Lane Baptist Church will take the appropriate action to return to these Texas Baptist values and restore its fellowship with the BGCT.

Randel Everett

As President of the BGCT, I have had the opportunity to be very close to this dynamic situation. From my perspective Dr. Everett has championed our historic convictions while seeking to keep lines of communication and understanding open between the BGCT and Royal Lane. David Matthews, pastor of Royal Lane, and the deacons of the church need our prayers as the church seeks to navigate this media storm and crisis.

Ministry today is complicated and messy, as is grace. Ministering and living between the tension of hope and holiness tests the resolve and resourcefulness of our churches. As we move closer to Easter Sunday, we need to redouble our efforts to share the hope of Christ with all who fall under His grace.