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<\/p>\nKentucky Baptists Say They\u2019ll Boot Churches That Hire Gays<\/b>
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The Kentucky Baptist Convention<\/a> has threatened to kick out any member churches which intend to relax rules against hiring LGBT people.<\/span><\/p>\n Via it\u2019s Illumination Project committee, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), an affiliated group of liberal churches, has discussed the possibility of lifting the ban on hiring gay<\/a> people. <\/span><\/p>\n However, according to the <\/span>Courier Journal<\/b><\/a><\/em> the Kentucky Baptist Convention has said it is \u201cwatching the situation closely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n To add to the concerns of both the Kentucky Baptist Convention, there also rumblings of dissent within and regarding the CBF.<\/span><\/p>\n Maurice \u201cBojangles\u201d Blanchard, who leads an LGBT ministry at Highland Baptist Church, criticized the CBF when it offered prayers for the victims of the shooting at Pulse nightclub. Blanchard, was one of the Kentucky plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case legalizing marriage equality, said it was hypocritical in light of the ban on LGBT employees.<\/span><\/p>\n He has also criticized the Illumination Project for not including any LGBT people. \u201cThey\u2019re discussing our inclusion without including us,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n The Illumination Project committee is expected to return with recommendations for changes early next year.<\/span><\/p>\n (Image via Twitter<\/a>)<\/p>\n The post Kentucky Baptists Say They\u2019ll Boot Churches That Hire Gays<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"KBC-LogoRGB\"](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/KBC-LogoRGB.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRELATED:\u00a0Memphis Baptist Church OKs Gay Marriage, Snubs Nose at Anti-LGBT Bigots in Tennessee<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Paul Chitwood (right), executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, said that if the fellowship\u2019s leaders soften their rule against hiring \u201cpracticing homosexuals,\u201d it would be \u201credefining sin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n