FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia pastor’s support for homosexuality could get her church voted out of local and state Baptist groups.
The Times West Virginian reports Pastor Valerie Gittings has publicly endorsed a local human rights ordinance that includes sexual orientation under its protections.
Gittings says the Fairmont Baptist Association discussed the matter and considered letting her resign with no action against the church because it’s her personal stance and not that of the church as a whole. Gittings said she offered to resign, but her church didn’t want her to.
She says the association’s executive board on Monday recommended dis-fellowship of the church from the association, and thereby from the West Virginia Baptist Convention.
Gittings says a convention resolution prohibits pastors from taking a different stance from the convention on homosexuality.
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Information from: Times West Virginian, <a target=”—blank” href=”http://www.timeswv.com”>http://www.timeswv.com</a>