Dallas (Texas), June 11 (H.S.): During its annual meeting, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) voted overwhelmingly for a resolution opposing the Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage. The resolution calls for the case to be overturned, reflecting ongoing efforts to combat same-sex marriage. This follows last year’s resolution denouncing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), linked to President Trump’s executive order discouraging IVF’s prevalence. The SBC asserts that marriage is defined as a union solely between one man and one woman and emphasizes the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death, aligning these views with Christian beliefs.

The resolution critiques the Obergefell decision for recognizing voluntary childlessness, contributing to declining fertility rates, disregarding biological differences between genders, and limiting parental rights—all of which are seen as harmful to societal values and the dignity of children. The SBC also opposes commercial surrogacy and transgender ideology, labeling policies that deny biological realities as legal fictions. In a notable context, the SBC recently expelled several churches, including Saddleback, amid ongoing tensions within the denomination concerning conservatism and doctrines. This stance aligns with the more conservative faction, which feels the judicial landscape has shifted favorably for their views following Trump's election. The resolution was presented by Denny Burk, president of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, reaffirming the position that acceptance of homosexuality and transgenderism contradicts Christian faith, echoing sentiments from earlier documents like the Denver and Nashville Statements.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar