Mark Harris, the newly-elected
president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC),
says he's hoping for a civil debate over a proposed amendment which
would make it unconstitutional for North Carolina to recognize gay
and lesbian couples with marriage, civil unions and possibly even
domestic partnerships.
Speaking to the Charlotte
Observer, Harris said he understands the debate will be
emotional, but added: “I hope we can express our position – keep
the conversation to the facts and our principles – and do it in a
civil way. It doesn't mean I'm going to change someone else's
position or they're going to change mine.”
“But in America, we all ought to be
able to express ourselves without things getting out of hand.”
“Over the next several months, I am
going to stress that this is an opportunity for the church to
celebrate marriage and its biblical foundation – rather than
talking about something we're against.”
A resolution in support of the
amendment was approved last month during the BSCNC's annual
convention.
The non-binding statement suggests that
gay marriage would hurt the family, children and North Carolina's
reputation and “economic viability.” It also calls on the
state's churches to “pray faithfully against the legalization of
same-sex marriages or marriage substitutes in American law.”
Moreover, the statement calls “upon
all the churches of the Baptist State Convention to vigorously
organize a strong effort among their members to support passage of
the Marriage Amendment ...”
“From a biblical position, all I can
do is state my position: I believe that homosexuality is a sin,”
Harris told the paper. “That said, I don't believe that that
position is at the heart of this amendment. If homosexuals choose to
maintain a relationship and live together, that's their business. I
don't believe people should be discriminated against.”
Harris added that allowing gay people
to marry would harm children.
The BSCNC includes roughly 4,300 member
churches.