This morning I googled for the site of Providence Road Baptist Church, where the most recent hate-filled rant against Gays and Lesbians came out of. You can catch up on the story via ChrisLove's diary here.
Unfortunately for another congregation in North Carolina (and a Baptist one, at that), they share a name all but one word similar to the hate church that is Providence Road. It seems that, from a posting on their website, some of those wishing to voice their displeasure with the hate spewing from Providence Road mistook Providence Baptist Church as the same congregation. See their posting below the squig:
Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte, North Carolina
has been mis-identified with a Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden, NC.
The Pastor of Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC
HAS NOT made any negative remarks concerning the LGBT community.
NO Minister at Providence Baptist Church of Charlotte,. NC has
made any negative remarks concerning the LGBT community.
We at Providence Baptist Church grieve with our community any time a message of hate triumphs over the love of Christ.
They could've just posted "Stop hatemailing us, our pastor didn't say that" and it would've adequately killed most of the negative response headed their way.
But, not unlike Christ, they took a bolder, more loving and riskier step: They made clear that not only has their ministerial leadership never made any negative remarks concerning the LGBT community, but that, my emphasis, grieve with our community any time a message of hate triumphs over the love of Christ.
Ghandi once said that he generally disliked Christians because they were so unlike their Christ. It's good to see a congregation and their pastoral leadership, especially within the Baptist denomination, stand with Christ and against hate.
If you have a moment today, won't you drop Providence Baptist Church a quick email telling them how much you appreciate the stand they took?
Dr. Cadenenhead, Senior Pastor: acadenhead@providencebc.org
Jim Tucker, Media Specialist: jtucker@providencebc.org
www.providencebc.org
