Baptists

== Sexuality ==
[[File:Wedding, Nicaragua.JPG|thumb|Wedding ceremony at First Baptist Church of [[Rivas, Nicaragua|Rivas]], [[Baptist Convention of Nicaragua]], 2011]]

Many churches promote [[Abstinence pledge|virginity pledges]] to young Baptist Christians, who are invited to engage in a public ceremony of [[sexual abstinence]] until Christian marriage.<ref>Anne Bolin, Patricia Whelehan, ''Human Sexuality: Biological, Psychological, and Cultural Perspectives'', Routledge, UK, 2009, p. 248</ref> This pact is often symbolized by a [[purity ring]].<ref>Sara Moslener, ''Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence'', Oxford University Press, US, 2015, p. 144</ref> Programs like [[True Love Waits (organization)|True Love Waits]], founded in 1993 by the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] have been developed to support the commitments.<ref>Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, US, 2004, p. 587</ref>

Most Baptist associations around the world believe only in marriage between a man and a woman.<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 519</ref> Some Baptist associations in the United States do not have official beliefs about marriage in a confession of faith and invoke congregationalism to leave the choice to each church to decide.<ref> William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 503</ref><ref> Bill J. Leonard, ''Baptists in America'', Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 243</ref> This is the case of [[American Baptist Churches USA]], [[Progressive National Baptist Convention]], [[Cooperative Baptist Fellowship]] and [[National Baptist Convention, USA]]. Some Baptist associations support same-sex marriage. The [[Alliance of Baptists]] (USA),<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 14</ref> the [[Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms]],<ref> William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 628 </ref> the [[Aliança de Batistas do Brasil]],<ref>Renato Cavallera, [https://noticias.gospelmais.com.br/alianca-batista-aprova-uniao-gay-boa-nova-20090.html Aliança batista aprova o reconhecimento da união gay no Brasil e afirma que é uma "boa nova"], noticias.gospelmais.com.br, Brazil, May 25, 2011</ref> the [[Fraternidad de Iglesias Bautistas de Cuba]],<ref>Javier Roque Martínez, [https://newsweekespanol.com/2022/02/cristianismo-no-papel-relevante-gobierno-cubano/ 'El cristianismo no jugará un papel relevante en la oposición al gobierno cubano'], newsweekespanol.com, Mexico, February 17, 2022 </ref> and the [[Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists]] (international)<ref>William H. Brackney, ''Historical Dictionary of the Baptists'', Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 603</ref> all support same-sex marriage.
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