DALLAS (ABP) -- The Baptist General Convention of Texas said March 17 it was asking Royal Lane Baptist Church in Dallas to remove mention of its affiliation with the state convention from church publications and would hold any funds received by the church in escrow until the church clarifies its position on homosexuality.

Randel Everett, executive director of the BGCT, said in a statement on the convention's website that while the church has taken no official action on welcoming and affirming gays, public remarks by church leaders suggest a position "clearly different from the historic theological position" of the state convention.

Questions about the church's views on homosexuality stem from a March 6 newspaper article about the congregation changing its website to describe itself as a "vibrant mosaic of varied racial identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and denominational backgrounds."

Everett said BGCT leaders met with the church's pastor and a deacon, and that deacons met March 14 and asked the church to clarify its position on the issue.

"It is my prayer that Royal Lane Baptist Church will take the appropriate action to return to these Texas Baptist values and restore its fellowship with the BGCT," Everett said.

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