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Heath Lambert, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida sparked online criticism for requiring churchgoers to sign and abide by a "biblical sexuality" pledge.
The pledge in question rejects LGBTQ+ people and unequivocally affirms the church's opposition to same-sex marriage. Lambert gave church members a deadline of March 19 to sign otherwise they will no longer be members.
It states:
"As a member of First Baptist Church, I believe that God creates people in his image as either male or female, and that this creation is a fixed matter of human biology, not individual choice."
"I believe marriage is instituted by God, not government, is between one man and one woman, and is the only context for sexual desire and expression.”
Lambert denied in an interview with Rolling Stone that the pledge discriminates against LGBTQ+ people, saying only it "does rule out the LGBTQ array of sins" and that rape, incest, polygamy, "and all sorts of things are ruled out just as much as homosexuality.”
In an official statement, the First Baptist Church said the pledge “is an exercise in clarity so that our members might understand our most fundamental commitments in a sexually confused world. It is also an exercise in love toward a lost world that desperately needs to know God’s standard for human sexuality.”
Lambert held an open mic event to address the community about the pledge's importance.
The open mic event was held in response to "concern, questions, and anger" the church acknowledges reared up since the pledge and its requirements were formally introduced.
Lambert insisted to reporters the pledge offers nothing controversial from a biblical standpoint and those who choose not to sign the pledge are still welcome to attend church services—they just won't be considered full members of the organization.
Mark Rutzen, a member of the congregation, toldAction News Jax only full members can become deacons, teach and "hold a position on staff here of any authority or anything like that."
However, community member Sheri Lynn signaled not everyone in the congregation is on board with the new policy, saying people "need to love on one another and embrace one another," not "judge" or "separate."
The news of the pledge exposed Lambert and the church to significant criticism online.
\u201cLeave it to the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL to use religion to divide people. After all There is No Hate Like \u2018Christian\u2019 Love.\n\nThis huge congregation MUST sign this pledge in order to remain a member.\nhttps://t.co/tYCKyfS1jv\u201d— RacerxJax \ud83c\udf08 #VaccinatedNotRepublican (@RacerxJax \ud83c\udf08 #VaccinatedNotRepublican) 1674774011
\u201cHey @HeathLambert\u2026 I\u2019m good. I don\u2019t need to sign a document to stay a member of your church. I haven\u2019t darkened the doors of that place since 2016. Sending this out to your mailing list is pathetic. Good luck reaching all* of Jacksonville. \n\n*all = those who agree w/ your views\u201d— Jack Leon (@Jack Leon) 1674695000
\u201cWho in their right mind would want to be a member of \nFirst Baptist Church | Jacksonville Florida?\n\n@HeathLambert https://t.co/0fXklxfvCV\nhttps://t.co/HJ1xPFUIA5\u201d— Frito Caska (@Frito Caska) 1674902529
\u201cMembers of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL are now required to sign a Biblical Sexuality Agreement - anti LGBT - by March 19th. Wonder how many real Christians will walk away from them?\u201d— Wecker-Seipke (@Wecker-Seipke) 1674917052
\u201cFirst Baptist Church of Jacksonville is making their members sign this sexuality statement by March 19. Is this the adult version of the True Love Waits abstinence pledge? Because both are messed up.\u201d— Melissa Gopp-Warner (she/her)\ud83c\udf08 (@Melissa Gopp-Warner (she/her)\ud83c\udf08) 1674739530
\u201cMore hate and intolerance from the church.\n@HeathLambert @FBCJAX\u201d— Fred Friendly - Say NO to fascism! \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Fred Friendly - Say NO to fascism! \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1674909578
\u201cPastor @HeathLambert of @FBCJAX is requiring church members to sign an anti-LGBT contract, and if they don't, they will be removed from the church.\n\nWhere is their contract requiring church members to care for the poor, feed the hungry, and welcome refugees?\u201d— Travis Akers (@Travis Akers) 1674751982
\u201cPastor @HeathLambert of @FBCJAX is requiring members to sign a \u201csex contract\u201d or else they will be removed from the church.\n\nThis is unbiblical and contrary to the teachings of Jesus and commands of God.\n\nNowhere in the Bible is this requirement for church membership ordained.\u201d— Travis Akers (@Travis Akers) 1674697842
More information about the “Statement on Biblical Sexuality” can be found on the First Baptist Church Jacksonville website, which also requires church members to declare there are only two genders.
Lambert and the church denied the policy is transphobic as well as homophobic.