Sunday was the last time in the pulpit for Brett Younger at Ft. Worth’s Broadway Baptist Church. I’m sad to lose a great moderate preacher in this state. I admit that I’m a geek that downloads his sermons every week. I was quite upset when a friend of mine went to visit Broadway without me.
What is most sad about Younger leaving is that it is based around controversy. Last year around November, to celebrate Broadway’s 150 anniversary as in custom in many churches, they wanted to make a picture directory of church members. However, what is not custom in most churches (well Baptist churches) is Broadway’s congregation has been welcoming to homosexuals. The question was then brought in front of the church as to how, if at all, homosexual couples should be photographed and displayed in the directory. This led to a large debate within the church, a vote that was postponed until February. A decision was made that no one would be photographed individual or in family units, rather the directory would have pictures with groups of church members in church activities.
The discussion did not stop at with the directory controversy. This ignited a firestorm of controversy in which a group was formed named “Friends of Broadway.” They started a website and sought to persuae that Younger had destroyed Broadway and an argument over photographs was only the tip of an iceberg of problems. The church took a vote to remove Younger, with the ruling in his favor. However, in the calm of the storm, Younger threw himself overboard as wished by the congregation and resigned from Broadway to take a job as a professor of preaching at the McAfee School of Theology.
I don’t know if I should be disappointed with Younger or not. Certainly I can’t imagine being in his shoes and the amount of pressure and maybe even hatred he faced from his congregation. I don’t know his heart or intentions, but they seem suspect to me. With all respect, I admire Younger, but it seemed as if he meant to stir the pot only to leave it on the stove. I have to question in my heart if he intentionally caused controversy because he knew he was leaving. Surely this job was not offered and accepted overnight… In such cases I feel it was wrong on his part to cause such strife and dissension in the church for something he is nothing going to continue to fight for. But maybe I’m just a conspiracy theorist or just jealous because first Julie Pennington-Russell leaves for Atlanta, and now Brett.
I will also take this time to give my opinion about the directory issue. I have mulled over this or the last eight months. It has caused me to think about what I would do in a similar situation. I guess in my mind I am not sure what the big deal is. I can sympathize with the church for struggling over loving the sinner but hating the sin. Members of Broadway did not want a homosexul lifestyle endorsed and thus why they did not want to photograph couples. I get that. But if that is the case, then why stop there. Why is homosexuality the only sin they don’t want endorsed? Why did no question the photographing of couples living out of wedlock. Or what about divorced members that remarried? Are these not lifestyle sins too? I am simply advocating consistency. No sin is greater then another.
The church is made up of humans. Our very basic theology tells us that humans are sinful. If humans are sinful, then the church is made up of a bunch of sinful people. The is none righteous, not even one. I am not saying to condone sin, but as a local churches and teh universal church we must reconigze that we all sin. I think this is just one more example people have included in their arsenal to excuse their bitterness toward churches and Christians. How sad.
Goodbye Brett Younger. Texas loses another. I will have to find something else to do for those 20 minutes on Sundays.
Tags: Add new tag, Baptist, Brett Younger, Broadway, Church, Directory, Homosexuals, Moderate
June 10, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Maybe he’ll upload sermons from Mcafee.
I would have resigned, too. A pastor is the spiritual leader of the congregation, and it’s difficult to lead when the followers are reacting with such hostility. I’m pretty sure if he had stayed his health would have declined simply out of depression. It’s hard to say this, but sometimes the best choice is to go where you’re welcome and leave where you aren’t.
June 10, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Summer, excellent article and very balanced. Though, I do have a question, who was that no good friend who visited Broadway and didnt take you with them?
June 23, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Mom says I undercharged them. Still, it’s good publicity and people in LA will be seeing my work (and hopefully asking them who made those amazing cake toppers).