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Evangelical leaders criticized for role in controversial Nashville Statement

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two Charlotte area evangelical leaders are facing criticism for their part in a controversial document called the Nashville Statement.

A group of evangelical leaders met in Nashville last week to participate in a project they said was intended to provide clarity on what the Bible says about members of the LGBTQ community.

[LINK: Nashville Statement and initial signatures]

The most controversial part of the statement is Article 10 that reads:

"WE AFFIRM that it is sinful to approve of homosexual immorality or transgenderism and that such approval constitutes an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness."

Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, signed the statement, but declined to speak with Channel 9 on Wednesday.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary & Bible College, agreed to discuss the statement in-depth with WSOC-TV.

"This is a traditional, orthodox, plain vanilla statement of Christian theology," Land said.

Land said nothing in the statement would have been newsworthy 20 ago.

"When human beings claim the right to change their gender, that's the ultimate rebellion against God's will," Land said.

Critics of the Nashville Statement argue the statement is hurtful and insist the Bible carries a much different message.

The Rev. Emily Hartner, a pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte, said her congregation welcomes members of the LGBTQ community just as they are.

"They are not suffering because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," Hartner said. "They are suffering because of discrimination and prejudice that's been thrown their way."

Land insisted the statement is rooted in love and equated the message to telling a family member something they didn't want to hear.

(WEB EXTRA: President of Southern Evangelical Seminary and Bible College in Matthews talks about the Nashville Statement)

"If people are hurt by this, sometimes you're hurt by the truth. Our responsibility is not to be liked by everyone," Land said. "This is not a condemnatory statement. This is an affirming statement. God loves everyone. That doesn't mean he accepts all behavior."

(WEB EXTRA: Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte talks about the Nashville Statement)

Hartner said the statement is discriminatory and judgmental.

"We're not interested in judging people for that. We want to lift up love. They are not suffering because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are suffering because of discrimination and prejudice that's been thrown their way," Hartner said. "Jesus was all about love, and Jesus summarized all of the commandments into two commandments, love God and love your neighbor. That to me doesn't fit into those two commandments."

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