SBC: EXECUTIVE BUSTED IN GAY ...

... prostitution sting by Oklahoma City police.

A Southern Baptist Convention leader was arrested Jan. 3 for offering to have sex with a male undercover police officer. Police in Oklahoma City arrested Lonnie Latham, pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla., on a charge of offering to engage in a lewd act.

The CRIB is reporting this because it endeavors to be impartial when it comes to news affecting the Kingdom of God. I take no joy in reporting on what appears to be a fallen brother or sister, especially a Southern Baptist brother or sister.

Latham is a member of the SBC Executive Committee and has supported SBC efforts to get gays to renounce their sexual attractions. According to several media reports, police in Oklahoma City had received ... complaints about male prostitutes outside ... a hotel ... in "the heart of Oklahoma City's gay district."

A plainclothes officer investigating the complaints told police officials that, late on the evening of Jan. 3, Latham approached him at another location and invited him back to the hotel for oral sex. The pastor did not offer to exchange money for the act, according to police, and thus was arrested on the lewdness charge rather than one of solicitation.

I was extremely disappointed to discover the voice of the SBC (Baptist Press) has been silent on this news; yet, according to ABPNews, the event took place on the 3rd of January, two days ago. The Associated Baptist Press took until today to report, yet their piece is the go to piece at this point.

If you're interested in reading the kneejerk and mocking reactions of non-believers concerning Latham's perdictament, read the comments following this post by a "former Baptist."

... multiple media outlets quoted Latham as saying, as he exited the jail, that he had been "set up" and that he had simply been ministering to people in the area when he was arrested. "I was involved in a prayer ministry in that area, and I had a dialogue with police," he said, according to the website of the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. "The officer made many suggestions."

But, according to police officials, Latham made no mention of prayer, told the officer his name was "Luke," and said he was from Dallas and worked frequently in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

The CRIB will not be joining in with the chorus of condemnations until we've heard the whole story ... but it doesn't look good for Latham.

If it turns out Latham is guilty, I will say this: he knows full well the cost to the Kingdom for behavior such as that as he is accused of, he must have a pathetic fear of God if he has any at all. I suspect Internet porn will be discovered at the center of Lathan's problem, if there is one.

For now I'll join Oklahoma Baptists ...

Heidi Wilburn, spokesperson for the Oklahoma convention, also released a statement saying the organization was "deeply grieved" over Latham's situation. "Our first concern is for his church and family," the statement read. "As Christians we reach out to those who hurt; however, we fully support law enforcement in dealing with these matters. While we certainly do not condone this type of activity, we do continue to care and pray for Lonnie during this difficult time."

Usually, however, when a pastor resigns from a pulpit without comment there's flame inside the smoke somewhere.

The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma was notified late Thursday by Lonnie Latham that he was resigning from the BGCO Board of Directors effective immediately. Latham’s resignation comes following his resignation at South Tulsa Baptist Church. In his official letter of resignation to the BGCO, Latham stated the following: “I submit to you my resignation from the Board of Directors and as Recording Secretary for personal reasons.”

“We are deeply saddened by the recent events regarding Lonnie. We continue to be concerned for South Tulsa Baptist Church and the Latham family. We pray Lonnie will find healing and restoration as he seeks help for the issues he faces,” said Heidi B. Wilburn, spokeswoman for the BGCO. “Lonnie’s resignation has been accepted without the BGCO Board of Directors having to take initiative regarding the matter. Lonnie also indicated he has resigned from the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.”

These are difficult times to be a believer, what with the very public failures of church leaders and the temptations the world uses against the Lord's Army.

I don't know about anyone else but I do know this; I am gratefull God established a relationship with us as individuals not as corporate entities where if one falls all fall.

Thank you Jesus ... I stand or fall on You and You alone. Baruch Hashem Adonai!


FULL STORY

OTHERS REPORTING:

Seattle Post-Intelligencier
KOCO 5

Baptists, Christianity, Homosexuals, Hypocrisy, Oklahoma, Religion, Southern Baptists, Southern Baptists Convention, Tulsa