to condemn homosexuality: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:10, Romans 1:21-28, Genesis 19, Jude 7 and the fiery passages in Leviticus.

"If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood be upon them."

Matt had called it a sin and, like any unrepented sin, he believed it could lead to separation from God after death.

But he also knew the 505 Bible passages about love, and those words undergirded him through most of his church life. And he had seen the signs of love in churches.

He received thank-yous sent after visiting the sick. Congratulations when his daughter married. In 1971, the youth at Red Bank Baptist made him a plaquefor his service. "You're a good man, brother Matt," it read.

When he moved from his job as minister of education at Red Bank Baptist that same year to work for the Hamilton County Baptist Association, the church staff got him a cake and made him feel as if he would be missed.

Years later, when he had the heart attack, Fred Steelman, the head pastor of Red Bank Baptist -- everyone respectfully referred to him as Dr. Steelman -- came to the hospital and prayed over him, and Matt healed.

Matt assumed somehow that when he learned that Stephen was dying of AIDS, the church would come alongside him in this strange place. That's what churches were supposed to do.

When he and Frances walked into the hospital room, Stephen was