A Texas Baptist church voted to embrace gay marriage and consequently, will be forced out of The Baptist General Convention of Texas. 

Wilshire Baptist Church voted 577-367 (61 percent) to affirm that the church bylaws recognize a single class of membership, which would allow for all members to be treated equally, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, with respect to leadership, ordination, baby dedications and marriage.  

BGCT will formally tell Wilshire Baptist church, which left the Southern Baptist Convention years ago, they are no longer in "harmonious cooperation" with the organization.  

"All Texas Baptists are loving, respectful and welcoming to all people. But while we are welcoming, we are not affirming," a spokesman told the Washington Post. 

"We will take up the matter of our relationship to the BGCT on our own terms in the near future, as cooperation with such bodies is voluntary and springs primarily from the church to the convention, rather than the other way round," Rev. George Mason said in a letter to his congregation.  

Mason expects at least 100 people to leave after the church's vote. 

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