Churches around the country are watching the controversy that’s unfolding in Memphis right now over a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance being considered by the city council. The resolution would prohibit the city from discriminating against employees on the basis of “sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.” A second provision in the law would ban groups, individuals or businesses who discriminate for those reasons from doing business with the city or using city facilities.

I haven’t read the language of the actual proposed ordinance, but it’s apparent that there’s a back story here. Memphis was the city where last month a church rejected a team from a church softball league because its coach was a lesbian. According to the local news story on video below, a group called the Tennessee Equality Project approached councilwoman Janis Fullilove about sponsoring the measure. The Fox News story quotes the group’s director who mentions the softball incident:

Cole told Fox News he respects concerns that some critics have for the pending legislation, but he was especially bothered by the outrage coming from Bellevue Baptist Church. “They really lack moral authority on the issue,” he said. “This is the same congregation that can’t even share a softball field with a lesbian coach.”

It seems it that if this law is passed, churches who are opposed to homosexuality or don’t allow practicing homosexual pastors or staff members could be banned from doing business with the city of Memphis and from using city facilities, including parks and sports fields.

The irony here is that the anti-discriminatory law is going to open up the door to discriminating against people on the basis of their religious beliefs. Do we really want to live in a society where people can be banned from taxpayer funded parks because of their religious views or practices?

Another part of the news story is quite telling:

Cole stressed that his group is willing to make some concessions and perhaps offer churches an exemption from the proposed law. “We’re willing to start somewhere by giving them an exemption,” he said. “At least for the time being.”

It sounds like the Tennessee Equality Project has a lot of pull with the Memphis City Council– the group’s director is already speaking as if he’s the one calling the shots.

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