At its two-day meeting in Columbus,
Ohio, Southern Baptists approved a resolution vowing to resist a
Supreme Court ruling that establishes nationwide marriage equality.
The nation's highest court is expected
to hand down a ruling in a case challenging gay marriage bans in four
states before it finishes its current term on Tuesday. The ruling
could strike down the nation's remaining 13 bans, leading to
nationwide marriage equality.
About 5,000 messengers attended the
meeting, at which Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd
was re-elected to a second one-year term. Floyd ran unopposed.
Floyd himself vowed to defy the court.
“I declare to everyone today, as a
minister of the gospel, I will not officiate over any same-sex unions
or same-sex marriage ceremonies. I completely refuse,” he said.
(Related: Southern
Baptists' Ronnie Floyd compares Supreme Court to Nazi regime on gay
marriage.)
The resolution approved states: “No
matter how the Supreme Court rules, the Southern Baptist Convention
reaffirms its unwavering commitment to its doctrinal and public
beliefs concerning marriage.”