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Queensland Baptist Pastors not allowed to drink alcohol

The Qld Baptists are proposing this motion...
"The new ‘Interim Registration Guidelines’ for Queensland Baptists were sent out by e-mail today to pastors and a shock was in store for those who read all the way through. They discovered in Section 11 ‘General Guidelines’, the following:
11.5 Registered Ministers should be total abstainers from the use of alcohol"

According to some, the culture of Queensland means this has a good chance of passing.

Even an occiasional reader of this blog will know that I enjoy a social drink.
But taking aside the easy target this makes the Qlders....to call them wowsers of puritans or pharisees....I actually think this is seriously bad news.

It says something about us that we would want to regulate or forbid our pastors from enjoying a social drink with their neighbours and friends.
I seriously think it goes against scripture to try and stop a preacher do what Jesus did...and what God commanded His people to do...from the parties in the Old Testament, to the parties in the New...with Jesus making sure there was enough wine, to being accused of being a drunkard by the Pharisees....

I want to have a drink with my non church mates...I want to be their mate...I want to be a part of their life. I think this is what Jesus wants me to do.

I don't want to be a drunk
I do want my kids to have an example of a responsible drinker
I do want to be friends with those who don't yet know Christ.

In a sad way, I am sort of ashamed of this decision by Qld Baptists...I hope they reconsider.

11 comments:

  Gareth Williams

9:34 am

There are a couple of Baptist Churches in my area of Brisbane that wanted to seceed from the union when they allowed pastor's to drink.
All I can say is I'm glad I'm in the CoC.

  Gareth Williams

9:35 am

My second thought is will they have people checking to see if pastor's drink?

  Dave Q

12:11 pm

I am not a big drinker (maybe 1-2 times per year), but that does seem a bit harsh. I think it is a personal decision if a Pastor drinks or not. The main thing for me is they (like the rest of us Christians) drink responsibly.

  backyardmissionary

1:07 pm

wow!

that's a shocker!

I wonder who will police it

  Mark (under construction)

5:27 pm

I reckon that the Pastor should not be a glutton as well.

  dave

9:04 pm

Mark (under construction) - actually, being a glutton is specifically spoken about as a sin whereas drinking (as opposed to drunkenness) is not condemned anywhere. they really should start with sins explicitly mentioned in the bible before banning things that aren't mentioned.

  g

1:16 pm

as a student at a Qld Baptist Bible College I am surprised hearing this, we haven't had any discussions on it at all.

The key thing for the upcoming Qld Baptist convention is a decision to allow the ordination of women...

...i'm wondering if they're trying to slide this one in at the same time as the more controversial one unnoticed?

If it does pass and becomes an issue I guess I'll never end up being an accredited Baptist Pastor.

  Mark Edwards

1:52 pm

which is a very valid point Dean...I know it sounds slightly silly...but someone needs to stand up to the Pharisees...

  g

8:15 am

So talking to some Baptist Pastors here last night, and from what they tell me this is a current point that is looking to be changed slightly... as in currently 11.5 is there and it's looking to be changed...

but as far as Qld Baptist Pastors are aware there is nothing about banning drinking coming up...

  Mark Edwards

1:47 pm

okay...but I have heard this from a Baptist pastor in qld...

  Anonymous

3:55 pm

You said-I want to have a drink with my non-church mates...I want to be their mate....I want to be part of their life. I think this is what Jesus wants me to do.

If you really stand for the Lord and the gospel, they won't be your mates for long, drinking or not drinking. The gospel tends to separate.

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