PHEONIX (WBAP/KLIF News) – One of the largest Christian denominations in the world is denouncing the views of the Alt-Right and white supremacists.
The Southern Baptists voted to officially rebuke the radical right at their annual convention in Pheonix, Arizona this week.
Christine Wicker is a religious writer and researcher and told WFAA TV the decision comes as many Southern Baptists deal with an identity crisis.
“They are in a big struggle to figure out who they are…to sort of leave the fifties,” she said.
Pastor Dwight McKissic of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington told WFAA TV that more and more of the alt right were identifying as Southern Baptist.
He said the denouncement needed to be made before it permanently affected the Southern Baptist movement.
“I was aware of many, many who said they were going to leave, especially younger ones from all over the nation. I was pleading with them, ‘not so fast,” he said.
McKissic said it is up to the church to be the moral guardian of society.
In response to the development, Alt-Right leader Richard Spencer tweeted ,” Jesus never complained about “racism.” Paul enjoined slaves to return to their masters. Have these fundies ever read their Bibles.”
It took three votes before the resolution to denounce the Alt Right passed.
It’s a development that McKissic said he was happy about but was long overdue.