June 15, 2017

Southern Baptists vote to condemn white supremacy

NPR - The Southern Baptist Convention voted to formally "denounce and repudiate" white nationalism and the alt-right movement at the church's annual meeting Wednesday, but only after the denomination's leadership was criticized for initially bypassing the proposal.

The resolution decries "every form of racism, including alt-right white supremacy and every form of racial and ethnic hatred as of the devil."

There was a standing ovation in the crowded convention room in Phoenix after the resolution was passed.

Southern Baptist leaders had declined to consider the resolution the day before, saying they were concerned that the proposed language was too strong. The decision was met with confusion and anger from members of the denomination and the public. And it highlighted divisions in the roughly 15 million member denomination that surfaced during last year's election.

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