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Bordeaux calls for united stand on Nov. 2
K. Allan Blume
October 27, 2014
4 MIN READ TIME

Bordeaux calls for united stand on Nov. 2

Bordeaux calls for united stand on Nov. 2
K. Allan Blume
October 27, 2014

C.J. Bordeaux, the outgoing president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC), is heralding a “clarion call” to the state’s pastors and church leaders. He is joining the invitation of Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and others who recently called Southern Baptists to join forces with “I Stand Sunday” on Nov. 2.

The call was launched in response to the subpoena of five pastors’ sermons and internal communications by Mayor Annise Parker of Houston, Texas, and the Houston city attorney. The action set off a national firestorm among church leaders across denominational lines. In spite of protests the city leaders have not backed down.

The event will stream live from Grace Community Church in Houston – one of the affected churches – and will focus on the city’s challenge to First Amendment rights, as well as other threats to religious freedom around the country. The aim is to demonstrate how Christians nationwide can stand together for religious liberty.

Bordeaux said this is not just a concern in Texas. “This issue is not something that is just ‘out yonder,’ It is here,” he said. “Everyone is aware of the story, but I want to underscore the issue, I want to end my presidency with this kind of challenge.”

He not only calls for churches to unite Nov. 2, also believes the convention could be a great rallying point for pastors. “We need to take a stand. I will weave some of this emphasis into my convention sermon on Monday night at the annual meeting at the Koury Center,” Bordeaux said.

Referring to the theme of the Nov. 10-11 annual meeting, he added, “It is certainly a time for us in North Carolina to awaken. My sermon on Monday night will be on the challenge to do greater things. I want to call North Carolina pastors to be bold, to be firm. … We are labeled the hate mongers because we stand by scripture and on Christian convictions. We try to approach issues with the love of Christ, but the whole rhetoric has changed. The belief is, ‘If you don’t agree with me, then you hate me.’”

Bordeaux advises churches of every size to carefully evaluate the wording of the church’s constitution and bylaws. “These issues will be coming into our churches. I’m afraid many will be confronted with this in some of our small, country churches and in our larger churches, who are not at all prepared to deal with it,” he said.

“We are seeing government overreach beyond our wildest imaginations,” Bordeaux said. “The separation of church and state has become a very blurred line. We need to pay attention. Be strong, be firm, be faithful, but be graceful. Let’s be prayerful and encourage each other.”

Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, is one of several speakers scheduled to speak at the “I Stand Sunday” simulcast hosted by Family Research Council and other partners. Other speakers include Ed Young, senior pastor of Second Baptist in Houston; Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson; Erik Stanley, director of the Alliance Defending Freedom Pulpit Initiative Project; FOX News contributor and author, Todd Starnes; Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; and former Arkansas governor and FOX News personality Mike Huckabee._ÑŒ

The free live simulcast is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (EST) from the Houston church. The website istandsunday.com says the event will “… focus on the freedom to live out our faith free of government intrusion or monitoring. We will stand with pastors and churches in Houston, Texas, who have been unduly intimidated by the city’s mayor in demanding they hand over private church communication.”