Orlando, racial unrest topics at Southern Baptist meeting

Members of the choir raise their arms as they worship during a meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

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Pastor Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, speaks to members of the organization Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

Pastor Ronnie Floyd, center, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, conducts a discussion on race with fellow religious leaders during a meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (The Associated Press)

The Orlando shooting, racial unrest and the tension between religious liberty and gay rights are all under discussion as the Southern Baptist Convention meets in St. Louis.

Convention President Ronnie Floyd, who has made racial unity a priority of his presidency, told an audience of thousands on Tuesday he believes racism is from Satan, and it is up to churches to defeat it.

The nation's largest Protestant denomination was founded in a split with northern Baptists over slavery, has a history of complicity with Jim Crow laws and is still 80-90 percent white. But with 15.3 million members, that translates to at least 1.5 million non-white members.

Later Tuesday, delegates will vote on a proposal calling on Christians to consider limiting or discontinuing display of the Confederate battle flag.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/orlando-racial-unrest-topics-at-southern-baptist-meeting