Leaders of 300 churches in the Pacific Southwest plan to break from the American Baptist Churches USA
The Associated PressThursday,
September 22, 2005; 12:14 PM

COVINA, Calif. -- Leaders of 300 churches in the Pacific Southwest plan to break from the American Baptist Churches USA, claiming the national denomination has failed to implement its declaration that gay relationships are incompatible with Christianity.

The Pacific Southwest Region said some churches with liberal stands on homosexuality have not been properly disciplined. But a top committee of the denomination said Monday that the national church does not set policy for any of its 5,800 congregations because each is autonomous.

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