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CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (AP) - A group of 65 West Virginia churches is calling for a split from the American Baptist Churches USA over of concerns about its stance on homosexuality.
There are 465 Baptist churches in West Virginia, according to the group.
"It is time to stand on God's word and break fellowship with those who condone flagrant sin in the church," Jay Wolfe, chairman of the West Virginia Baptists for Biblical Truth, said in a release.
The state convention has long held that "homosexuality is not part of the Christian lifestyle," said David Carrico, the West Virginia convention's executive minister. But Carrico warned that splitting off from the national church could have a significant financial impact.
"I think we have to be very careful," he said.
Between 600 and 800 delegates are expected to attend the annual state meeting at the Clarksburg Baptist Church beginning on Oct. 18, Carrico said.
West Virginia Baptists for Biblical Truth's annoucment came in the same week as leaders of 300 Baptist churches in the Pacific Southwest announced plans to break from the American Baptist Churches for what they said was a failure to implement a declaration that gay relationships are incompatible with Christianity.
The Pacific Southwest Region said some churches with liberal stands on homosexuality have not been properly disciplined. But a national committee said the church does not set policy for any of its 5,800 congregations because each is autonomous.
With 1.5 million members, American Baptist Churches USA is smaller and more moderate on gay issues than the 16 million-member Southern Baptist Convention.
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Information from: The Exponent Telegram, http://www.cpubco.com
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