Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association

--Press Release--

On March 6, 2008, the Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association (MBLA) announced that it will re-activate its research and publishing arm, re-activate its website and begin scheduling a series of informational rallies across the state as part of a state-wide campaign called “Missouri Baptists Still Have a Right to Know.” 

The announcement came after MBLA leaders met in Columbia with conservative Missouri Baptist leaders from across the state to discuss the current state of affairs within the Missouri Baptist Convention. Among the concerns discussed were: (1) The formation and continued political activism of the group called “SOC” (Save Our Convention) and their stated agenda of building a political coalition to move the convention “back to the center;” (2) The growing use and defense of alcohol consumption and other such vice, as legitimate “outreach” methodologies, and; (3) The strong support of the emerging church movement within the SOC group – most specifically, the Acts 29 Church Planting Network which claims to be “theologically conservative and culturally liberal.”   

In regard to the formation of the SOC group, MBLA research director Roger Moran noted that the political rhetoric flowing from the SOC group has not only been shrill in nature, but intentionally divisive, often pitting old conservative friends against each other. “SOC leaders have repeatedly referred to MBC Executive Board members, MBC Nominating Committee members and MBLA leaders as ‘legalistic Pharisees,’ who in a ‘spirit of legalism’ are operating a ‘political powerbroker machine’ that, according to SOC leaders, will ‘lead to the destruction of the Missouri Baptist Convention.’”    

According to MBLA’s out-going president Kerry Messer: “The validity of the divisive rhetoric coming from the SOC group fails to stand up under even the slightest scrutiny.” One example cited by Messer was the SOC accusation that “legalistic Pharisees” serving on the MBC Nominating Committee the last few years has resulted in the “exclusion of many fine Missouri Baptists.” However, Messer noted that a brief examination of those serving in MBC/SBC positions of leadership during the most recent 2007 calendar year reveals that members of the 11 SOC churches have held 36 positions of leadership – 28 at the MBC level and 8 at the SBC level.     

MBLA board member Ron Turnbull stated: “SOC leaders have tried to argue that their new political organization is not about the emerging church -- not about alcohol -- and not about the firing of our former Executive Director. But the evidence is overwhelming and to the contrary. This current controversy in the MBC is indeed about the emerging church/Acts 29 -- it is about alcohol -- and Baptist Press has now reported that it is about the firing of our former Executive Director. These three issues have proven to be absolutely inseparable.”       

In response to another statement in Baptist Press by MBC president Gerald Davidson that the issue of alcohol within the MBC is a “straw man,” MBLA has released a 39-page “resource document” entitled “Alcohol, Acts 29 and the Missouri Baptist Convention.”   This resource will provide Missouri Baptists a documented glimpse into the depth and degree of the alcohol issue within the MBC.    

In regard to SOC’s ongoing political activism and their stated political strategy, Moran says that at some point, Missouri Baptists need to consider this question: “Just how far to the left are SOC leaders willing to go in order to build a political coalition that can move the Missouri Baptist Convention ‘back to the center,’ considering that’s where we just came from?”     

Signers to the letter: 

Jim Wilson, First Baptist Church Seneca

Marshall Link, DOM Cane Creek Stoddard

Stan Gibson, Pacific Baptist Church

Denny Marr, Calvary Baptist Church, Republic

Charles Burnett, Harmony Heights Baptist Church, Joplin

John Garland, First Baptist Church East Bonne Terre

Jarel Burnside, Arnhart Baptist Church, Purdy

Mark McMullin, First Baptist Church Piedmont

Vic Borden, Red Bridge Baptist Church, Kansas City

Larry Atkins, First Baptist Church Buckhorn

Paul Pope, Sonrise Baptist Church, Bonne Terre

Larry Greenfield, DOM Mineral Area Association

Shelby Job, Elm Grove Baptist Church, Curryville

Bob Noland, First Baptist Church Exeter 

Danny Decker, First Baptist Church Warsaw

Steve Brown, Calvary Baptist Church, Republic

Jerry Williams, DOM Barry Association

Ron Willis, New Salem Baptist Church, Ashland

Jay Scribner, Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Springfield

Rebecca Nance, Ravanna Baptist Church

Earl Nance, Ravanna Baptist Church

Chris Roche, First Baptist Church Troy

Gordon Voss, Olney Baptist Church

Bill Johnson, Calvary Baptist Church, Versailles

Jesse Barnhart, First Baptist Church Mayview

Alfreda Price, Bethel Baptist Church, Independence

Dean Bredbenner, First Baptist Church O’Fallon

Kim Petty, Grace Community Church, Smithville

Don Rice, First Baptist Church Hume

Jeff Purvis, First Baptist Church Herculaneum/Pevely

Roger Moran, First Baptist Church Troy

Kerry Messer, First Baptist Church Festus Crystal City

Ron Turnbull, Elm Grove Baptist Church, Curryville

Louis Hunt, Sulfur Lick Baptist Church, Troy

Justin Nelson, South Creek Church, Springfield

Bill Edwards, Path of Light Community Church

Jesse Cass, Jamesport Baptist Church

Michael Knight, First Baptist Church Viburnum

Kent Cochran, First Baptist Church Raytown

Tom Johnson, First Baptist Church Fredericktown

Marlowe Scott, First Baptist Church Rolla

David Baker, Heartland Baptist Church, Belton

Jeff White, South Creek Church, Springfield

Jason Rogers, First Baptist Church Winfield

Ralph Sawyer, First Baptist Church Wentzville

Aaron Weibel, New Site Baptist Church, Monett

Monty Dunn, Pleasant View Baptist Church, Highlandville

Brian Baker, Heartland Baptist Church, Belton

Mark S. Boley, Cedar Grove / Luray Baptist Church,

Cindy Province, Dardenne Baptist Church

Stanley Sakabu, M.D., Dardenne Baptist Church

Doug Ervin, First Baptist Church Kearney

Kirk Baker, Lawson Baptist Church

Nick Catrow, Harmony Baptist Church, St. Louis

Jerry Yarnall, First Baptist Church Exeter

David Klee, The Way Baptist Church, Warrenton

Gary Foland, The Way Baptist Church, Warrenton

David Nissing, Silex Baptist Church, Silex

Marty Finch, Winfield Baptist Church, Winfield

Donald R. Buford, Liberty Baptist Church, Big Springs