Lonnie Latham

The Reverend Dr. Lonnie Latham (born January 7, 1946) served as the senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a post he held from 2002 to January 6, 2006, when he resigned from that position as well as from the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, (where he served as one of four such members from Oklahoma), and as the recording secretary of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. His resignation came after his arrest for lewdness. He was later acquitted of the lewdness charge on March 7, 2007.

History in the Tulsa Metro Baptist Association

Lonnie Latham was elected director of missions for the Tulsa Metro Baptist Association during their November 13–14, 2000 meeting. The meeting also saw the controversial adoption of the Baptist Faith and Message, a pivotal document in the Southern Baptist Convention's "Conservative Resurgence." [cite web | url = http://ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=6311 | title = SBC President's Anti-Jewish Remark Helped Spark Conservative Revolution | first = Daniel | last = Goodman | publisher = EthicsDaily.com | date = 2005-09-20 | accessdate = 2007-05-12 ] According to one report, Latham has spoken out against expansion of [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A//www.innovations.harvard.edu/showdoc.html%3Fid%3D2701&ei=aVq9Q-W8FKWOiAG20vT3Dg&sig2=sFckUfSL6_DKepVHOEh8yA tribal gaming in Oklahoma] , as well as against homosexuality. In the latter vein, he supported the SBC's adoption of a policy encouraging Baptists to befriend gays and lesbians and to help them "reject their sinful, destructive lifestyle." [cite web | title = Southern Baptist Pastor Arrested for Gay Sex Offer | url = http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2006/01/southern-baptis/ | first = Timothy | last = Kincaid | date = 2006-01-05 | publisher = Ex-Gay Watch | accessdate = 2007-05-12 ]

The September 16, 2001 edition of "Tulsa World" describes Latham as executive director of the Tulsa Metro Baptist Association. [http://www.tulsaworld.com/assault/A_1_9_16.pdf "Clergy see spiritual rebirth as downcast Americans ask why"] (PDF).

Opposition to gambling

On Tuesday, October 26, 2004, one week before the 2004 General Election, Latham addressed the subject of State Question 712, a referendum on the expansion of tribal gaming and installation of gambling machines at three local racetracks. Speaking to attendees of the Tulsa Press Club’s “Two Views” luncheon, Latham said::"It grieves my heart to think we would do anything to undermine the effectiveness of the average home or the average person in our state...We don’t need gambling to help Oklahoma. What we do need is an empathetic heart toward small business. Through them, we’ll gain a true economic base for our state."

“The petition would be to allow the state’s people to vote on whether or not they want this kind of casino gambling in the state,” he said. “…. We’re hoping that we can gather not only 51,000 names but also many more who will see this as the moral issue that it is.”

Latham also said the social costs of gaming outweigh its benefits, and he opposed efforts to establish a state lottery.

State voters eventually approved both expanded Indian gaming and a lottery. [http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=7413 Native American Times 1/5/2006]

2006 arrest

On Tuesday, January 3, 2006, Latham was [http://www.oklahomacounty.org/cosheriff/InmateQuery/bookingdetail.asp?PERSON_ID=200058274 arrested and booked] into the Oklahoma County Jail by members of the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. The misdemeanor charge was that of "Offering to Engage In An Act of Lewdness," a charge carrying penalties of up to a year in jail and a US$2,500 fine. Reports sourced to a police department spokesman said that he had propositioned a plainclothes police officer for oral sex in an area of the community which had been the subject of public complaints of cruising related to male prostitution.

Latham was arrested around 9:45 p.m. and his automobile was impounded. The arrest took place in the parking lot of [http://www.atmgallery.com/artwork/press/miller.html The Habana Inn] . Reportedly, Latham followed a plainclothes police officer's car for several blocks, ultimately pulling up beside it. Latham told the officer that he enjoyed "a particular lewd act" and then solicited the police officer to perform the act at a room Latham said he had booked at the nearby Holiday Inn Express. Latham did not offer money in exchange, so he was not charged with soliciting prostitution.

Upon posting bail, Latham contested the charge to local television reporters, saying "I was set up. I was in the area pastoring to police." [http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5845859/detail.html]

"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."

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. [http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2006/01_06_2006/ne060106sbc.shtml]

This was not Latham's first visit to the area. Public records show that on December 2, 1998, at about 11:30 p.m., Latham was issued a traffic ticket for "failure to stop for a stop sign" at NW 39th and Frankford. This intersection is only blocks from where Latham was arrested and serves as rear access to the Habanna Inn." http://www.johntv.com/ [http://www.johntv.com/images/tickets/12-02-98-Latham_ticket.pdf PDF Document]

Reaction within the Southern Baptist Convention

South Tulsa Baptist Church issued the following [http://stbc.net/statement.jpgstatement] :

"We are deeply grieved to hear the news about our pastor, Lonnie Latham. Our first concerns are with Lonnie, his family, and our church family. We will be focused on doing what we can to minister to everyone in this difficult time. Our church has a great history and a great future of ministry in this community. We would appreciate your prayers."

On January 8, 2006 Rev. Lonnie Latham notified [http://www.bgco.org The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma] that he was resigning from the BGCO Board of Directors effective immediately.

“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 [http://www.bgco.org/?s=25 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.” [http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5887178/detail.html Pastor Accused Of Lewdness Resigns From Convention] [http://www.pamspaulding.com/graphics/statement2.jpg]

Anthony Jordan, BGCO executive director-treasurer, spoke with Baptist Press after having talked with Latham.

"We have a dual responsibility," Jordan said.

"From the standpoint of the church and, certainly, as brothers in Christ, we are to hold Lonnie to the biblical standard of morality and to hold him accountable for his actions." He added, "Lonnie has responded to that admonition by resigning from his church, asking their forgiveness and stepping aside to seek healing.

"At the same time, in the midst of failure, the church is to be a place of restoration," he said. "That is the biblical admonition." [http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2006/01_09_2006/ne090106sbc.shtml]

On January 9, 2006 a letter from Latham to his congregation was released. Morris Chapman is the CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention and he says of Latham - "In spite of his denials soon after his arrest, he now acknowledges the incident did happen and that he needs help." [http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=96711]

[http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_patriotboy_archive.html#113662280038532723 Dr. Charles A. Cruce] , Director of Missions for The [http://www.tmabc.org Tulsa Metro Association of Baptist Churches] posted the following message:

:"Our association of churches is saddened by the recent news concerning our former Executive Director, Dr. Lonnie Latham, now pastor of our own South Tulsa Baptist Church. We hurt deeply for Lonnie, for [http://www.thecourierexpress.com/weddings/2005wedding/brosius-ocker.shtml his loved ones] , and for the wonderful church that he pastors. [http://www.mainstreambaptist.blogspot.com/2005/09/sbc-suffers-under-toxic-flood-of.html While we certainly do not condone this type of behavior] , it is so important for us to remember that Lonnie is one of our own and our actions toward him as [http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/16/Tampabay/Kansas_church_to_pick.shtml a fellow member of God’s Family] should be responses of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. What has happened in this situation only demonstrates that we are all human, that [http://heartlandvalues.blogspot.com/2000/06/never-ending-chronicle-of-church.html we all make mistakes] and that we all fail. That is why we need a Savior who heals, who forgives, and who restores . . . that’s why we need Jesus. [http://www.tmabc.org/]

Reaction from within the GLBT community

Jamie McDaniel, a spokesperson for [http://www.soulforce.org Soulforce] who works to change the antigay polices of the SBC, said “It’s tragic that so many, like Rev. Latham, have never been told the truth that they can live with dignity and express their God-given sexuality in ways that are open, honest, loving and life-affirming. Trapped by Southern Baptist misinformation, many people of faith think their only option is to live a dark and secretive double-life. The SBC needs to be held accountable for causing this kind of needless suffering.”

Writes Leslie Robinson of the gay newspaper, "The Dallas Voice", "Whew, good thing I’m not required to take such a high-minded approach. I appreciate that Latham has likely been suffering a long time, and that his family is in pain. But the man has been a colonel in the campaign against us, so I prefer to point, yell 'Hypocrite!' and resign myself to the fact that I won’t be on Soulforce’s Christmas-card list." [http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_1030.php]

In a January 6 press release, [http://www.ngltf.org The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce] commented:

"This isn't the first time he's been in the area, having [http://www.johntv.com/images/tickets/12-02-98-Latham_ticket.pdf received a traffic violation there a few years back.(PDF)]

"Rev. Latham has been an outspoken opponent of...rights for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. And, of course,in recent years the Southern Baptist Convention - the nation'slargest Protestant denomination - has become increasingly
homophobic and aligned itself with the worst elements of the farright in working to stop [http://www.marriageequality.org Marriage Equality] for gay people...

"These kinds of situations involving anti-gay political and religious leaders being caught, literally, with their pants down are hardly uncommon. My instinctual reaction has always been oneof smug satisfaction - "serves the damn hypocrite right."

"...I only feel sadness for Rev. Latham and his family."

Other reactions

Rev. Dr. Mel White, founder of Soulforce, an organization which works on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to oppose religious and political oppression, commented about Rev. Latham's arrest [http://www.soulforce.org/article/741] : "No one should have to come out via an undercover sting operation. That is its own evil. Until the Southern Baptist Convention ends their spiritual violence against gay and lesbian people, tragedies like this will continue."

Rev. Fred Phelps, the anti-gay minister of the Westboro Baptist Church, who is most famous for picketing the funerals of Matthew Shepard and Mister Rogers issued a press release on January 9th announcing a protest outside South Tulsa Baptist Church on February 15th.

[http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/jan2006/20060105_south-tulsa-baptist.pdf WBC to picket the sodomite whorehouse (Ezek. 16:24) masquerading as South Tulsa Baptist Church, 10310 South Sheridan, Tulsa, Oklahoma(PDF Document)]

Blogger PZ Myers commented, "My first thought wasn't that it was shocking that a Baptist anti-gay crusader wanted illicit sexual release, but to wonder that it is apparently illegal to simply ask for oral sex in Oklahoma. Is it coercive? Are Oklahomans all so flamingly gay (but repressed) that they can't just say no? I say, Free Lonnie Latham! He's a martyr to the suppression of the rights of gay men in Oklahoma!" [http://pharyngula.org/index/weblog/comments/stand_up_for_lonnie_latham/]

Defense and acquittal at trial

On February 2, 2006, Latham pleaded not guilty to the lewdness charge [http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=96889] . The case was then heard in a non-jury trial. [http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=1996992&db=Oklahoma]

On March 7, 2007, Latham was found to be not guilty by Special Judge Roma McElwee, who said her ruling was based on the evidence and not on the issue of the constitutionality of the law in question. [http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0307/403600.html] , [http://www.acluok.org/LegislatureCourts/BaptistMinister'sCaseContinues.htm] , [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/07/AR2007030702267.html]

Latham's attorney, Mack Martin has told reporters that what his client did was Constitutionally protected and shouldn't be a crime. “It’s like saying you’re arrested for crossing the street — so what?” Martin said. “This is a major First Amendment issue.”

Mack says he feels the only reason that the court is pursuing charges is because of pressure from the media attention.

But Oklahoma City District Attorney Wes Lane says, “The law in Oklahoma prohibits an individual from soliciting another to engage in what is considered a lewd act regardless of whether money is sought for or exchanged.” The American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief for Latham [http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/discrim/24032prs20060201.html] , stating that the law is unconstitutional because it makes it a crime for an adult to ask another adult to engage in legal conduct.

“I imagine there are a lot of people [like Latham] in the closet in his church and unfortunately his church is so anti-gay, his life is essentially destroyed. He has to be so closeted. A lot of people are in similar situations and I worry that’s [http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_suic.htm why so many young people commit suicide] ,” said Don Satterthwaite, spokesperson for the [http://www.ofec.org Oklahoma Freedom & Equality Coalition] .

References

External links

Affiliation with Southern Baptist Convention

* [http://www.southtulsabaptist.org/ South Tulsa Baptist Church]
* [http://www.stbc.net/ImageResizeCache/0_latham_t2004.9.17.9.9.5_q70_142x200.jpgImage of Lonnie Latham from the South Tulsa Baptist Church web site Staff page]
* [http://www.stbc.net/ImageResizeCache/Liturgical_t2004.9.25.21.39.17_q70_138x200.jpgImage of Lonnie Latham in clerical robes holding a Bible (from the South Tulsa Baptist Church web site)]
* [http://www.baptist2baptist.net/b2barticle.asp?ID=163 Oklahomans affirm BFM, CP; adopt $21.7 million budget]
* [http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/printerfriendly.asp?ID=17092 Okla. Baptists affirm CP, challenge 'New Tolerance']

January 3, 2006 Arrest

* [http://www.johntv.com/images/tickets/12-02-98-Latham_ticket.pdf Lonnie Latham's traffic ticket (PDF Document}]
* [http://www.oklahomacounty.org/cosheriff/InmateQuery/bookingdetail.asp?PERSON_ID=200058274 Lonnie Wayne Latham Booking Detail]
* [http://www.johntv.com/ordinance-lewdness.htm ARTICLE VII. PROSTITUTION, PUBLIC LEWDNESS, ETC.]
* [http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5845859/detail.html Tulsa Pastor Arrested In OKC On Lewdness Charge]
* [http://blogs.kansascity.com/crime_scene/2006/01/thou_shalt_not_.html Thou shalt not solicit undercover cops]
* [http://www.wbir.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=31184 Prominent Baptist minister arrested in gay prostitution sting]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/01/05/lewd.pastor.ap Police: Pastor propositioned officer]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-05-pastor-arrested_x.htm Pastor who preached against gays arrested on lewdness charge]
* [http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2021215&mesg_id=2021215 Oopsie! Local Baptist preacher busted for asking man for sex]
* [http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0104pastor-arrested04-ON.html Pastor with anti-gay stance accused of soliciting male prostitute]
* [http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=4374 Southern Baptist leader arrested for soliticing policeman]
* [http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/01/010406lewdPastor.htm Anti-Gay Pastor Busted For Trying To Pick Up Male Prostitute Decoy]
* [http://www.nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=7413 Anti-gaming religious leader arrested for solicitation]

Resignation

* [http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5887178/detail.html Pastor Accused Of Lewdness Resigns From Convention]
* [http://www.pamspaulding.com/weblog/2006/01/homo-bigot-pastor-that-offered-bj-to.html Homo-bigot pastor that offered a BJ to an undercover male cop resigns]
* [http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=22401 Pastor resigns after arrest for seeking lewd behavior] (Baptist Press, January 6, 2006)
* [http://www.southernvoice.com/2006/1-20/news/national/natnews_preachers.cfm Anti-gay pastor resigns posts after arrest]

Reaction to Arrest

* [http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/1/prweb329600.htm Rev. Lonnie Latham--Another Victim of the Southern Baptist Lie Regarding Homosexuality]
* [http://heartlandvalues.blogspot.com/2000/06/never-ending-chronicle-of-church.html The never-ending chronicle of church-related crime]
* [http://www.democraticunderground.com/top10/06/227.html The Top 10 Conservative Idiots (No. 227)]
* [http://www.gophypocrites.com/2006/01/hyp06001.html BuzzFlash.com's GOP Hypocrite of the Week]
* [http://www.bgco.org/?p={4743AE70-68B3-4162-9754-BED007E6043A}&nh={E1629723-F035-4581-A141-40FF038D528B}&sc=25&ni=547&fr=news Lonnie Latham Resigns from Baptist Board (Press release from BGCO)]
* [http://www.bgco.org/?p={4743AE70-68B3-4162-9754-BED007E6043A}&nh={E1629723-F035-4581-A141-40FF038D528B}&sc=25&ni=546&fr=news Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Releases Statement Regarding Lonnie Latham (Press release from BGCO)]
* [http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2006/01_09_2006/ne090106sbc.shtml SBC Executive Committee member arrested (Baptist Press)]

Defense and Trial

* [http://www.washblade.com/2006/1-20/news/national/baptist-bust.cfm Busted Baptist leader to challenge his arrest] January 20, 2006.
* [http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=96889 Former Tulsa Pastor Charged With Lewdness In Oklahoma City] Latham's February 2, 2006 not guilty plea.

Related

* [http://www.atmgallery.com/artwork/press/miller.html Cowpokes After Hours: Art Miller documents a homoeroticism burning beneath the highway’s neon glare]
* [http://www.tbaptist.com/aaa/pbc/2004/pbc0406.html The homosexual revolution has been aided and abetted by many who are bisexual]
* [http://www.mainstreambaptist.blogspot.com/2005/09/sbc-suffers-under-toxic-flood-of.html SBC Suffers Under Toxic Flood of Fundamentalism]
* [http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_1030.php Straight pretenders often pay high price for hiding sexuality]
* [http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid24859.asp Articles of faith]