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Baptists distance themselves from comments on ABC Compass

6:29pm Monday, 11th July 2011

Australian Baptist Ministries have distanced themselves from comments supporting gay marriage, made by a Baptist Minister on the ABC's Compass Program.

Nathan Nettleton, a minister in the Baptist Union of Victoria at South Yarra Church, spoke in favour of Gay marriage on a Compass panel broadcast on Sunday July 10.

"For myself I actually support [Gay Marriage] and would be willing to conduct a same sex wedding were such things allowed" Nettleton told Compass compere, Geraldine Doogue.

Anglican Bishop Robert Forsyth and Catholic Priest Frank Brennan spoke up for traditional Christian marriage.

"The notion of one flesh, that God made us male and female as Jesus said, personally I believe that it's God's will that men and women form a new kinship in which children are possibly to be born", said Forsyth.

Nettleton's denomination has issued a statement dissociating themselves from his opinion: "The sentiments expressed by the Reverend Nathan Nettleton in an ABC Compass program on same sex marriage legislation broadcast on Sunday July 10 do not represent the views of Australian Baptist Ministries (ABM) or an overwhelming majority of Baptists in Australia and around the world" according to an ABM statemnet issued by spokeperson, Rod Benson.

"In November 2010 Australian Baptist Ministries reaffirmed marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and has commended the Australian Government for reflecting the biblical teaching on marriage in the federal Marriage Act. Marriage is not the appropriate institution for same sex couples."

Nattleton, who is married and heterosexual, wrote on the Punch opinion blog that he was a homophobic young man who changed his views after he was divorced, and experienced an outsider status.

"And as a divorcee, I found myself in a category of people who, according to my own biblical conservatism, were ruled out of marrying and confined to lifelong celibacy."

Having perhaps been more conservative than many in his denomination in his past Biblical interpretation, the Baptists wish Nettleton had spoken to them first before expressing his current more liberal views:

“It is regrettable that Mr Nettleton failed to consult with Australian Baptist leaders before expressing his personal views about same sex marriage on national television. To his credit he made it clear in the program that he was not representing the official Baptist position on marriage. It is disappointing that ABC staff chose not to invite a more representative Baptist voice to participate in the Compass program,” Revd Dr John Beasy, President of Australian Baptist Ministries, said.