Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina have expelled a congregation whose pastor baptized a gay couple and welcomed them as members.
A regional group of 81 Southern Baptist churches voted overwhelmingly to sever ties with McGill Baptist Church of Concord.
The group's mission director declared that "the homosexual lifestyle is contrary to God's will," and that churches shouldn't welcome gays as members "without evidence or testimony of true repentance."
McGill's pastor called that "judgmental," and said it's more important to reflect God's love, grace and mercy.