"Every Sunday [there] are people sitting in your pews whose hearts are heavy, who struggle silently and sometimes in fear of an issue [with which] they aren't comfortable talking with their pastor," he said.

In a June 13 press conference, Stith said he harbored a "degree of condemnation and judgment" toward homosexuals before God convicted him of his attitude in 1994.

He said he was "thrilled and excited at the response he got from convention leadership" when he surfaced the idea of a convention-wide emphasis on ministry to those dealing with same-sex attractions.

Stith said homosexuals hear the culture's approving message but do not hear what they should from the church.

"We have a firm conviction of what Scripture says, and we want to stay true to that," Stith said, explaining how he approaches ministry to this segment of the population.

He said he is interested in helping Southern Baptist churches understand how to minister to people who struggle with homosexual tendencies.

Those who are offended by the notion that homosexuality is a sin may not welcome this ministry, Stith said in a response to a reporter's question. Yet God doesn't have a hierarchy of sins, he said.

"We must receive them with the love of Christ regardless of who they are," Stith explained.

The ultimate goal is to bring men and women to wholeness in Jesus Christ, he added, saying he was hopeful homosexuals open to such a ministry would "come to a place where this temptation doesn't dominate their life."

LifeWay is underwriting the national strategist's position; the ERLC will provide administrative oversight.

 

© Copyright 2007 Baptist Press