SBC probes Planned Parenthood ties

ABP News ^ | June 11, 2013 | Bob Allen

[wonkowasright]

Southern Baptist Convention leaders have been asked to consider removing a Texas church that supports a local chapter of Planned Parenthood of America.

Messengers to the 2013 SBC annual meeting in Houston voted June 11 to refer a motion to the SBC Executive Committee to sever ties with Lakeshore Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, for active support of “the abortion provider Planned Parenthood.”

Dorisanne Cooper Pastor Dorisanne Cooper said Lakeshore Baptist Church already withdrew from the SBC 12 years ago and notified convention leadership at the time. “The church felt that the leadership and direction of the SBC were increasingly moving in ways that we did not consider to be true to our identity as Baptists,” she said.

...

[wonkowasright]

One notices that they are not removing the church from the SBC because they have had a senior pastor as a woman for the last decade or so. In NC there are several SBC churches with women pastors as well.

"In February, 2002, Rev. Dorisanne Cooper became Lake Shore’s senior pastor." per the local church website

I am surprised that is not an issue at this convention. That, women pastors, is in the process of dying a quiet death in the SBC.

Of course the local church did try to quit but the SBC never removed them from the roll.

[BereanBrain]

There is LakePointe (a SBC affiliated church) in Rockwall Texas, that allows members to have “Watch Care” instead of baptism.

I guess Baptist does not mean much anymore, to the SBC any more.

[ealgeone]

Disappointed in the SBC if this is the case. The Bible is clear on the qualifications for pastor. It’s not negotiable.....then again, neither is baptism.

[wonkowasright]

I documented the extent in NC here Here Dec, 2012.

I was baptist for a good while in my life, have a lot of respect for them, and keep an eye on how they handle the social issues as a result. In the NC case the state org ( and apparently the national because neither did anything ) was ok with a church up until the pastorettes in charge of it called a openly homosexual man.

[Salvation]

[Coldwater Creek]

Watch care in a Baptist church means that a persons letter from their former church has been requested, but until that letter has been received, they are under what is called “watch care”.

[Coldwater Creek]

Immersion baptism is a requirement for membership in all SBC churches.

[wonkowasright]

"Immersion baptism is a requirement for membership in all SBC churches."

I thought so to so I surfed over to see if LakePointe is indeed an SBC congregation. It is listed here on SBC website directory

Per the LakePointe website : 5. How should Christians be baptized? Lake Pointe practices baptism by immersion, but affirms some alternative modes of baptisms done for the right reason...

I must confess that surprised me.... To me reading the rest of that page it seems they require an adult conversion but will allow non immersion if the other conditions are met. Again I am surprised at that.

[Coldwater Creek]

Hopefully the right reason would be because of someones health. I have Pulmonary Fibrosis, there is no way that I could survive an immersion baptism.

[wonkowasright]

Now that you mention it I have heard of that being done for that reason in the past in conservative southern baptist churches. I had forgotten that.

Thanks.

[BereanBrain]

there seem to be a lot of people who JUST make assumptions about things.

I have first hand knowledge of the church in question, and it’s standing in SBC.

If you want to know the root of the problem, just check WCCA (Willow Creek Church Association) find a church and you will find that it is listed.

If you want a list of churches not to attend, I would suggest the WCCA find a church directory.

[BereanBrain]

The reason is people are refusing to be baptized.

As I stated, I have first hand knowledge of the situation.

[BereanBrain]

That’s not what “Watch Care” is a LakePointe.

It means essentially you have a provisional membership, for a year or two, but that you don’t have to submit to Baptism (of any sort, immersion, sprinkling, misting, etc).

I used to attend the church in question (7+ years) so I know.