Associated Baptist Press - 10/14/2008

Associated Baptist Press
October 14, 2008 · (08-98)

David Wilkinson, Executive Director
Robert Marus, Acting Managing Editor/Washington Bureau Chief
Bob Allen, Senior Writer

In this issue
Connecticut latest jurisdiction to legalilze same-sex marriage (767 words)
N.Y. Baptist group says to defrock pastor facing child-porn charge (763 words)
SBU administrator named as Oklahoma Baptist president (415 words)

Connecticut latest jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage
Robert Marus and Bob Allen (767 words)

HARTFORD, Conn. (ABP) -- The Connecticut Supreme Court Oct. 10 made that state the latest in the union to offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples.

The state's justices ruled 4-3 that the equal-protection and due-process provisions of the Connecticut Constitution require marriage be extended to gay men and lesbians. It becomes the third state in the United States -- after Massachusetts and California -- to legalize same-sex marriage.

When the ruling takes effect Oct. 28, it will mainly change terminology, since Connecticut has allowed gay couples to enter into "civil unions" -- with rights and responsibilities virtually identical to marriage -- since 2005. When the state's legislators passed that bill and Gov. Jodi Rell (R) signed it, Connecticut became the first state to approve civil unions without being under judicial pressure to do so.

But the latest decision said civil unions aren't enough. While not specifically enumerated in the state's charter, Justice Richard Palmer said in the majority opinion, marriage "has long been deemed a basic civil right."

"We conclude that, in light of the history of pernicious discrimination faced by gay men and lesbians, and because the institution of marriage carries with it a status and significance that the newly created classification of civil unions does not embody, the segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm," Palmer wrote.

"Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal-protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise-qualified same-sex partner of their choice," he added. "To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others."

While acknowledging that marriage has been traditionally viewed as between a man and woman, the court said history teaches that society's prevailing views and practices often mask unfairness and discrimination not recognized by those not directly harmed. They cited previous bans on interracial marriage, exclusion of women in occupations and official duties and relegating minorities to "separate but equal" institutions.

"Like these once-prevalent views, our conventional understanding of marriage must yield to a more contemporary appreciation of the rights entitled to constitutional protection," the decision said.

In one of three separate dissenting opinions, however, Justice Peter Zarella said decisions on same-sex marriage should be left up to the democratic process rather than a judicial one.

"The ancient definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman has its basis in biology, not bigotry," Zarella wrote. "If the state no longer has an interest in the regulation of procreation, then that is a decision for the legislature or the people of the state and not this court."

The majority said the state's main rationale for denying marriage to same-sex couples was to preserve the institution of marriage exclusively for heterosexuals. That reason alone, they ruled, is insufficient to justify a ban on same-sex marriage.

The majority also said recognizing the right of gays to wed does not jeopardize religious freedom, because religious organizations will not be required to perform same-sex marriages.

"Because, however, marriage is a state-sanctioned and state-regulated institution, religious objections to same sex marriage cannot play a role in our determination of whether constitutional principles of equal protection mandate same-sex marriage," the court ruled.

Rell's office quickly released a statement saying that, while she disagreed with the ruling, she would enforce it.

"The Supreme Court has spoken," Rell said. "I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision -- either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution -- will not meet with success. I will therefore abide by the ruling."

Predictably, gay-rights groups hailed the ruling while conservative religious groups pointed to it as another example of why they believe a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is necessary.

However, the decision -- unlike a comparable Massachusetts court ruling on gay marriage prior to the 2004 presidential election -- may have little effect on the upcoming contest. Unlike in 2004, same-sex marriage bans are on the ballot in only a handful of states this year.

Additionally, recent polls suggest that issues such as the economy and the war in Iraq are far more important -- even to conservative religious voters -- than gay marriage or other divisive social issues in determining their voting decisions.

The ruling came about when a group of eight same-sex couples were rejected for marriage licenses by Connecticut officials in 2004. The case is Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health, No. 17716.

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N.Y. Baptist group says to defrock pastor facing child-porn charge
By Bob Allen (763 words)

OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. (ABP) -- A statewide fellowship of independent Baptist churches in New York is recommending defrocking one of its pastors arrested on child-pornography charges.

Leaders of First Baptist Church in the Upstate New York town of Oswegatchie demanded and received the resignation of Pastor Merton Parks after local media reported their pastor was part of a federal investigation. Parks, 60, was arraigned Oct. 9 and charged with possessing child pornography, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison.

Craig Golden, state representative for the Empire State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches, said his group's polity means it would be up to the local church that ordained Parks to withdraw its ordination.

"When a guy does something like Mr. Parks did, we surely don't condone it," Golden said.

Golden said he doesn't yet know where Parks was ordained -- or even if he is ordained at all -- but that when the ordaining church is identified, "We would suggest or recommend to them or advise them that they follow through, and if the charges are true, that they would revoke his ordination certificate."

Golden acknowledged that the Baptist focus on autonomy of the local church creates a special challenge for preventing or addressing pastoral misconduct among Baptists. But, he added, the task is easier today because of the Internet and other technological means that enable rapid communication.

"If [Parks] goes to Utah and some little church gets his name, if they even go on the Internet and check it out, they'll see the whole story," Golden said. "There's no guarantee that he will never get another church," Golden said, but the chances are slim.

The Empire State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches is not formally affiliated with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, but it partners voluntarily as a regional association with the GARBC in ministry endeavors. Local churches may affiliate with either or both groups.

The GARBC separated from what is today called the American Baptist Churches USA over doctrinal differences in 1933. They strongly emphasize local-church autonomy and reject denominational structures like the Southern Baptist Convention as too connectional.

"We are more disconnected than Southern Baptists," Golden said, "but we still recognize [that] this disqualifies a man" for the ministry.

Last year the Southern Baptist Convention considered establishing a national database of clergy sex abusers, but the SBC Executive Committee rejected the idea as impractical due to local-church autonomy.

That has caused some activists against clergy sex abuse to criticize the SBC. The fact that an independent Baptist group is recommending that a local church defrock a pastor in this case may only sharpen such criticism.

"It's interesting that a Baptist group that claims to be even 'more disconnected' than Southern Baptists can nevertheless take the initiative to research an accused minister's ordination and to publicly urge the revocation of his ordination," said Christa Brown of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "This is more action than we've seen from Southern Baptist groups, state or national."

According to media reports, Parks was snared in a federal investigation that identified thousands of people in the United States who have subscribed to various child-porn websites.

The Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cyber Crimes Unit said it tracked credit-card purchases of child pornography on Parks' church computer since July. Parks reportedly said in a statement to investigators that he used the images as a way to self-treat his erectile dysfunction, and he claimed he didn't know they were illegal.

Parks told the Watertown (N.Y.) Daily Times "it was some indiscretion on my part," but "there was no malicious intent." He said he regretted involving the church in the ordeal, but he didn't believe the images on his computer were pornographic.

News10Now, a 24-hour local news channel owned and operated by Time Warner Cable, reported that, upon learning of Parks' involvement in the case prior to his arrest, church trustees sent a clear message that they didn't approve of such behavior.

"We called a special meeting and told him we wanted his resignation and his stuff out of the church by Sunday and not to ever step back into the church," said Glenn Fuller, a First Baptist Church trustee.

Parks had reportedly been at the church about three years. He worked previously for about five years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Hermon, N.Y. He also taught about 17 years in private schools in New York and Pennsylvania before entering the ministry.

If convicted, he would have to register as a sex offender.

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SBU administrator named as Oklahoma Baptist president
By Vicki Brown (415 words)

SHAWNEE, Okla. (ABP) -- David Whitlock, 46, an administrator at Southwest Baptist University, has been named Oklahoma Baptist University's 15th president, OBU trustees announced Oct. 10.

"Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, Dr. Whitlock will fit us well," Alton Fannin, OBU trustee chair, said.

An 11-member presidential search committee, which included Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Executive Director Anthony Jordan and Abby Jeffers, 2007-2008 student body president, presented Whitlock for the position.

"I am delighted that the board of trustees has voted to call Dr. Whitlock as the 15th president of OBU," Stephen Allen, search committee chair, said. "Dr. Whitlock's experience, vision and passion will enable him to continue in the excellent tradition of OBU's past presidents."

Whitlock has been associate provost and dean of the college of business and computer science at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Mo., since 1999. He also has served as dean of adult and satellite-campus programs since 2007.

Before that, he taught for 14 years at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also has been a bi-vocational pastor for churches in Oklahoma and Missouri since licensed to the ministry in 1993. He currently preaches every other week at Wellspring Baptist Fellowship in Bolivar, where he is an elder.

Born in Purcell, Okla., Whitlock earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a master's degree in administrative studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State. He completed a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Oklahoma.

"I see now how God has been preparing me each step along the way to serve in this day and in this place," Whitlock said on campus, following the announcement.

Whitlock follows Mark Brister, who retired in November 2007 after serving Oklahoma Baptist since 1998. John Parrish has served the past 12 months as interim president. Whitlock will assume the post Nov. 3.

Whitlock said he is grateful to have had to opportunity to serve at Southwest Baptist University and leaves behind "many dear friends" and colleagues.

According to SBU's student newspaper, The Omnibus, SBU President Pat Taylor nominated Whitlock for the OBU leadership spot shortly after Brister announced his retirement.

"I wrote a letter of nomination back last spring and it has been very interesting to watch this process unfold," said Taylor, who previously worked at OBU from 1986 to 1996. "You just see God's handprint all over this because he [Whitlock] was one among numerous good candidates."

According to the OBU student newspaper, The Bison, more than 25 candidates were recommended as president.

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-- Bob Allen contributed to this story.