Excerpt from The Ordeal and Tragedy of Binkley Baptist Church

During 1991 and 1992 the Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was guided through what became a highly divisive and rending experience. On the surface it would seem that the issue Of homosexuality was the question over which differing opinions created the rift that caused many members to leave. The request for licensure to preach by John Blevins, an openly gay, sexually active ministerial student at Duke University who joined Binkley Church in December 1990, was the focal point of that issue and the events which followed. However, when one reviews what was said and done during the past year, it becomes abundantly clear that John Blevins and the issue of homosexuality were only the catalyst which brought to the fore a number of other divisive issues.

In the first section that follows is an historical chronology summarizing those events that occurred within Binkley Baptist Church primarily during 1991 and 1992 dealing with the issue of homosexuality as well as other divisive issues, such as Biblical interpretation, ordination, local church autonomy, and political processes within the church. This survey was assembled from Binkley church records and from position statements and letters provided by members expressing their views on the issues and the process over the period. An attempt was made to identify the major actions taken by all sides in the controversy, providing a synopsis of those views expressed for and against the issues as well as the process used to pursue the main question. No attempt was made to summarize any literature on the subject from sources outside of the church, whether or not provided by the leadership or members.

And secondly, a subjective analysis has been placed at the end of this survey, for it is my view that there exists a serious misconception in the minds of many members as well as the general public as to what actually occurred at Binkley over the past year. This analysis is my own evaluation of how and why my Church has been effectively destroyed for me, and, evidently, for a sizable group of other members as well who have either left or are simply fading away. For it now embraces various policies, initiatives and loyalties which are viewed as simply unacceptable.

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