Kimberley Mills had been a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa, Ontario for the past four years and even served as one of the church’s youth leaders. She’s a devout believer so the dedication to the congregation made a lot of sense.

She also happens to be in a same-sex relationship.

So you can see where this is going…

The other day, Mills posted on Facebook a letter she received from the church informing her she could no longer be a member.

“I regret to inform you that the leadership of Calvary Baptist Church removed you from the membership … It was brought to our attention that you have chosen to live in disobedience to the scriptures,” a letter by Deacon Chairman Dr. Tim Wagner, and dated on Oct. 30, said, citing church policy and scripture. “It was brought to our attention that you have chosen to live in disobedience to the scriptures, specifically disregarding the warning of 1 Corinthians 6:9, in spite of repeated efforts by other believers in your life. “Kim, we are exercising our responsibilities to follow the biblical instructions toward the goal of your repentance and full restoration to your walk with Christ and his church fellowship … Please know that this was not entered into lightly and we pray for your full restoration.”

Right. Because she really forced their hand with her… um… existence.

I’m not exactly surprised by any of this. I’m more surprised that she’s surprised.

“At first I was shocked when I read it and I kind of thought, ‘This actually happens?’ As the day continued, I started getting a little bit more frustrated and hurt and I really just felt this is the problem,” she said. … “It makes me feel that they feel there is something wrong with me. I think that God has designed me to be a certain way, and God loves me just the way I am, so why is the church saying otherwise?”

Because that’s how Baptists roll. Did she seriously think they’d be okay with her relationship? Ever if she remained celibate or never got married, it’s not like Baptists were going to pat her on the back.

At least she’s publicly sharing this letter and talking about the church’s bigotry. No one should mistake these kinds of churches for being welcoming to LGBTQ people when their love is conditioned on that group hiding their identities or suppressing them as best they can.

Hell, the default assumption with all Christian churches these days ought to be that they’re anti-LGBTQ in every way. Let them prove you wrong. They haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt, and people shouldn’t be fooled by their rhetoric.

Silly Christian. Assuming her church actually gave a damn about the “love” passages in the Bible. Why point to those when the clobber verses are so close by?

(Image via Facebook. Thanks to Blair for the link)

