Homosexuality and Baptist churches
Jesus said: ""hate the crime and love the sinner, to love the sinner is to convert him from its wicked ways and repent. Describing the Baptist view on homosexuality is difficult due to the multitude of Baptist organizations, each with a slightly different doctrinal statement. The issue is further compounded by the large number of autonomous Independent Baptist churches which are not part of an organization and have their own doctrinal statements and beliefs. Basic beliefs. As with most issues, there is a diversity of views of members of Baptist churches on homosexuality. Some denominations remain  more conservative, believing in what they describe as 'traditional' marriage between one man and one woman. Other more liberal denominations allow local and autonomous congregations to determine their own regional policies. Thus, denominations are generally divided on the issue and reflect a diversity of opinions. Nevertheless, Baptists generally believe that homosexuality must be an issue that is approached with compassion and love. Dr. Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, emphasizes that: "Our response to persons involved in homosexuality must be marked by genuine compassion. But a central task of genuine compassion is telling the truth, and the  Bible reveals a true message we must convey. Those seeking to contort and subvert the Bible’s message are not responding to homosexuals with compassion. To lie is never compassionate — and their lie leads unto death." A relatively small, albeit growing, number of Baptists and congregations are open to the acceptance of homosexual relationships. Al Sharpton, a Baptist minister and Civil rights leader, during his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 said that asking whether gays or lesbians should be able to get married was insulting: "That's like saying you give blacks, or whites, or Latinos the  right to shack up – but not get married [...] It's like asking 'do I support black marriage or white marriage'. . . . The inference of the question is that gays are not like other human beings". Positions of churches. Several organizations and denominations of Baptist churches have issued statements and resolutions about homosexuality.