Baptists march for peace

About 15-hundred American Baptists took to the streets of Des Moines lastnight for a “peace walk.” Reverend Hector Cortez, the American Baptist’sexecutive director for “biblical justice,” led the march.Cortez asked participants to pray during the walk.Cortez said “too many walk alone through violence,” like the school shootingsin Colorado and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.The four-thousand American Baptist delegates and visitors wrap up theirweek-long meeting today in Des Moines. The biennial meeting has been markedby controversy over the ouster of Baptist churches which openly welcome gayand lesbian members.