Fallout from an Associated Press story has forced an Air Force chaplain to leave the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) after 30 years and affiliate instead with a more-moderate Baptist denomination.
Col. Timothy Wagoner left the SBC for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) in July, amid denominational fallout from an AP story that reported Wagoner’s attendance at a same-sex civil union held at his Air Force base in New Jersey.
Although Wagoner reportedly made it clear that he would not officiate same-sex unions, he did attend the June civil union of two officers he had commanded at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Wagoner told Baptist Press (BP) that the AP misquoted his reasons for attending the ceremony and instead implied his personal support for same-sex civil unions.
“My intention was never to embarrass or misrepresent the Southern Baptists whom I have faithfully served for 30 years as a pastor and military chaplain,” he told BP.
However, his explanation failed to placate SBC critics, leading to Wagoner re-aligning himself with the CBF.
CT has previously reported how the repeal of the U.S. military’s “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” policy has drawn complaints from SBC chaplains.
