In what can only be described as a heartbreaking — but sadly not surprising — moment in Australian church history, Canberra Baptist Church and Hamilton Baptist Church have been officially expelled from the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory Baptist Association. Their “offence”? Daring to fully welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ people in their communities. Daring to choose inclusion, conscience, and love over rigid dogma.
At the Association’s annual assembly in Sydney in early May, 65 percent of the delegates voted to sever ties with the two churches. Previously however, they have found ways to deal with churches who haven’t towed the line on the “gay issue.” Like what happened to Imagine Church in Darlinghurst and its minister, Pastor Mike Hercock. The Association’s recent decision will be etched into the memories of many as a moment when bridges were burned instead of built.
When doctrine becomes a wall
The conflict centers on the Association’s 2022 reaffirmation of a marriage doctrine declaring it is only “between one man and one woman, as ordained by God.” This kind of language, while familiar, has increasingly become a dividing line — not between right and wrong, but between inclusion and exclusion.
Both Canberra and Hamilton Baptist Churches made the courageous decision to stand in the gap — to say, we can remain Baptist while honoring the diversity of human experience and relationships. They are communities that embody grace, nuance, and above all, a love that transcends labels.
We believe very much that we have freedom of conscience. We can read the Bible really thoughtfully and faithfully, and we can come to different conclusions, and that’s OK. (Pastor Belinda Groves, Canberra Baptist Church)
This statement goes to the heart of what it historically means to be Baptist — freedom of conscience, autonomy of the local church, and the priesthood of all believers. Ironically, it’s those very values now being denied to the churches who’ve embraced them most fully.
Pain and pride in the same breath
Anyone involved in church politics knows the emotional toll is real. These are communities that have served faithfully for decades — Canberra Baptist has been part of the denomination for nearly 100 years. Members spoke of deep sorrow at the break, but also immense pride in having stood for integrity and inclusion.
There’s a deep sadness, but also joy — knowing we stood up for our principles and values. (Megan Williams, longtime Canberra Baptist Church deacon)
Let’s be clear: These churches are not walking away from their faith. They’re holding fast to it. They’re still Baptist in theology, mission, and heart. What they’re rejecting is the narrowing of faith into a set of exclusionary rules that leave too many people outside the fold.
What now?
As a result of the disaffiliation:
- The churches lose access to the Association’s legal, administrative, and insurance support.
- Ministers are no longer accredited to perform weddings under the Association’s banner.
- Hamilton owns its own property, whereas it is more complicated with Canberra and still to be worked out.
65 percent of NSW/ACT Baptists have historical memory loss
With more than 40,000 Christian denominations worldwide, a new insight or discovered truth birthed each one. The biggest separation was between Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century as protestants rejected the traditions, corruption and leadership of Rome. Wars were fought and blood shed over that division.
Baptists, too, were born out of a radical, controversial idea: That baptism is not a sprinkling of infants, but a full immersion as a conscious, adult choice — a public demonstration of true conversion. A truth I also embraced as a newly converted 18-year-old “born again” Christian; much to the horror of my Anglo-Catholic parents. For this belief, early Baptists were mocked, marginalized, and even imprisoned.
History tells us that the believers with a previous “revelation” always opposed and attacked the believers with the new “revelation.”
Today, as the Church is being called to fully include and affirm LGBTQ+ believers, we’re seeing another wave of reformation. The gay Christian movement began in a living room in Los Angeles in 1968 with a dozen people and a defrocked gay Pentecostal minister, Troy Perry. Over the last five decades, the truth that LGBTQ+ people are a part of the family of God has caused splits and deep divisions, but it has also grown exponentially and entire denominations have become affirming.
While some, like the NSW/ACT Baptists, resist it, fearing it strays from truth, history reminds us — truth often challenges tradition before it’s embraced.
The road forward
For those of us who have journeyed through rejection, through the ache of exclusion from the faith communities we once called home, this story resonates deeply. We know what it costs to stand in integrity. But we also know the freedom that comes when a church says, “God loves you. You are welcome here — fully, just as you are.”
These churches may have been expelled — but they have not been broken. In fact, they now stand as beacons of hope to countless others, wondering if there’s still a place for them in the church. The answer, from Canberra and Hamilton, is a resounding yes.
And to that, we say: Amen.
One of Australia’s foremost commentators on faith and sexuality, Anthony Venn-Brown OAM is the author of the best-selling autobiography A Life of Unlearning, which details his journey from being one of the first in the world to experience religious gay conversion therapy, to becoming a married, high-profile preacher in Australia’s growing megachurches (including the precursor to Hillsong), to living as an openly gay man. Founder and CEO of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the LGBTIQ community.