Category Archives: Sunrise Children’s Services

I had the opportunity today to submit an op-ed piece to the Louisville Courier-Journal on the topic of the recent debate over hiring practices at Sunrise Children’s Services. The piece expands on an earlier post. Here’s the article as it appeared in the C-J: In reaction to trustees of Sunrise Children’s Services voting to maintain […]

Bill Smithwick serves as the president of Sunrise Children’s Services, a Kentucky Baptist agency that has cared for hurting children for more than 150 years. The agency has always fought to retain a commitment to biblical hiring standards, meaning that open and avowed homosexuals were not eligible for employment. However, in a shocking about-face, Smithwick […]

In light of the vote of Sunrise Children’s Services board of trustees to maintain Christian standards in the ministry’s hiring practices, some have asked if Baptists hate homosexuals. I know that is not true of me and I believe it is untrue of any Baptist who seeks to obey God’s word. The Bible teaches us […]

Moments ago, the Board of Trustees of Sunrise Children’s Services voted not to change their hiring policies. For more from Sunrise, read this press release: I rejoice in the courage and conviction exhibited by the board’s decision. While I know, given where our culture is headed, government funding for Sunrise may someday be in jeopardy, […]

Will Sunrise Children’s Services become the new poster-child for the movement to require all religious organizations to affirm and hire gays and lesbians? This article from the Christian Post points in that direction: The New York Times in an editorial denounced the religious exemption clause found in the U.S. Senate bill that bars employment discrimination […]