It would not surprise me to see a unanimously passed resolution by Missouri Southern Baptists at the Missouri Baptist Conventions (MBC) annual meeting at Tan-Tar-A Oct. 31-Nov. 2, repudiating the behavior and views of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church.
Westboro is a Topeka, Kan.-based independent church of a few people comprised mainly of family members of pastor Fred Phelps. Phelps, a disbarred lawyer, and his group have gained national attention because of their hate-filled protests against homosexuals. They often draw attention to their message by picketing funerals of American military members killed in the war against terrorism. The military funerals have become targets due to the growing acceptance of homosexuality in the military.
Westboro gained more national attention March 2 when the U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8-1 decision, ruled that Westboro is not liable for its 2006 protest outside the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq. The decision was hailed as a victory for First Amendment rights. It was decried by others outraged at the hate-filled message and unpatriotic behavior of Westboro towards Americas military and particularly its dead. A salivating liberal news media has exploited the controversy because Westboro perpetuates a narrative by the media that churchgoers are loons, Baptists are conservative whackos and that homosexuals are mistreated and deserving of special rights including marriage.
I have chosen to largely ignore the antics of Westboro. The media coverage feeds the monster. I am breaking my silence because a growing number of Pathway readers have urged me to address the issue. They are concerned that people are mistakenly connecting Westboro with Southern Baptists.
Westboro is not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Some believe they are not even a church, but are more like a cult. They meet in the basement of a wired-off compound that serves as Phelps home. Phelps son, who left home when he was 18, has accused his father of abuse. Phelps daughter disputes the claim.
I really think most Americans know there is no connection between Westboro and Southern Baptists. Baptist Press has published about 20 articles since 1998 dealing with Westboro, many showing the differences between Westboro and the SBC. In 1999 messengers to the SBCs annual meeting passed a resolution that did not mention Phelps by name but did publicly denounce and deplore all attacks upon homosexuals.
SBC leaders have gone the extra mile in making sure no one connects Westboro with the SBC. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Phil Roberts has called Phelps views heretical. This man (Phelps) is not representative of the Christian community, Roberts told Baptist Press in a March 31, 2003 interview.
Richard Land, president, SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, wrote in a Nov. 7, 2007 editorial that, Fred Phelps and his followers grotesque assault on these bereft (military) family members is nothing less than verbal pornography and obscenity. For this group of misguided zealots to do their despicable deeds in the name of God is blasphemous.
Earlier this month Roger Sing Oldham, vice president of communications and convention relations of the SBC Executive Committee, reiterated the SBCs repudiation of Westboros actions.
The vast majority of those associated with the SBC and its cooperating churches share disgust at the image this group conveys of the Christian message and the name Baptist, he said. (We) are repulsed at the tactics the church uses to sensationalize its message of hate.
The Westboro group is aware of how Southern Baptists feel. They have picketed SBC annual meetings and at the SBC Executive Committee building in Nashville. Fine. We wear their view of us as a badge of honor.
A growing number of Missouri Southern Baptists believe it is time for us to speak publicly to this matter. I am hoping for a resolution at the MBC annual meeting, expressing our disdain for Westboros despicable behavior and unbiblical views. It is time. Let’s do it. United. Before the world.
DON HINKLE / editor
dhinkle@mobaptist.org