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Faithful Word Baptist Church

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Faithful Word Baptist Church
FoundedDecember 25, 2005 (December 25, 2005)
FounderSteven L. Anderson, Pastor
TypeNonprofit church
Registration no.1254011-8[1]
Location
Websitefaithfulwordbaptist.org

Faithful Word Baptist Church is a United States fundamentalist Baptist church in Tempe, Arizona.[2] The church uses only the King James Bible and members of the church meet in an office space located in a strip mall.[2][3] Steven L. Anderson established the church in December 2005 and remains its pastor.

In August 2009, the church received national attention when Anderson shared that he was praying for the death of President Barack Obama in his sermons. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) lists Faithful Word Baptist Church as an anti-gay hate group for its pastor's Biblical positions on homosexuality.[4][5]

Doctrine

The Faithful Word Baptist Church believes that the King James Bible is the word of God without error. The official doctrine of the church, professes beliefs in biblical inspiration, the post-tribulation rapture, salvation by grace through faith, eternal salvation through Jesus Christ and eternal torment in hell for the unsaved. Among the church's beliefs are that life begins at conception, that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination which God punishes with the death penalty, and an opposition to worldliness, formalism, modernism and liberalism.[6]

History

Establishment

Steven L. Anderson established the church on Christmas Day (December 25) in 2005 as a "totally independent organization".[4] The church's website states "Faithful Word Baptist Church is a totally independent Baptist church, and Pastor Anderson was sent out by a totally independent Baptist church to start it the old-fashioned way by knocking doors and winning souls to Christ."[7]

Border Patrol checkpoint incident

Anderson made national news when he refused to answer questions at an internal Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8, about 70 miles east of Yuma. Anderson disputed the constitutionality of the checkpoint, setting of a 90-minute standoff that was not resolved until agents broke out the windows of Anderson's rental car and shocked him repeatedly with a Taser while he was lying prone on the ground.[8] Anderson entered a not-guilty plea at a court proceeding on April 17, 2009, where he was arraigned on two misdemeanor counts of resisting a lawful order. On December 16, 2009, all charges against Anderson had been dismissed with prejudice by a Yuma County Judge during preliminary trial proceedings.[9][unreliable source?]

National attention over sermon on President Obama

The church received national attention in the United States in August 2009, when it was reported that in Anderson's sermon "Why I hate Barack Obama" he had been praying for the death of the president.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Anderson has said the United States Secret Service contacted him in response to the statements.[3] A CBS News report notes Anderson "didn't say he wanted his parishioners to attack the president, he did say the country would benefit from Mr. Obama dying."[17] Anderson also told KNXV-TV that he'd like Obama to die of natural causes, as he does not "want him to be a martyr" as "we don't need another holiday."[17] Anderson told columnist Michelangelo Signorile that he "would not judge or condemn" anyone who killed the president.[4] The strong stance made in the sermons against Obama, both personally and against his policies stem, in part, from Obama's views on abortion,[18][19] specifically abortion rights.[20] Anderson received death threats after the sermons had received national attention while a group, "People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate", organized a "love rally" attended by approximately a hundred people outside the church.[3][18][21]

KNXV-TV reported that the day after the "Why I hate Barack Obama" sermon, a member of the church, Chris Broughton, was carrying an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and a pistol at the Phoenix Convention Center when President Barack Obama spoke.[3][22][23] Broughton explained that he was not motivated by the sermon although he agreed with it.[18] The New Mexico Independent reported that Broughton's appearance at the rally was part of a publicity stunt organized by conservative radio talk show host Ernest Hancock, who also came to the rally armed, and engaged in a staged interview with Broughton which was later broadcast on YouTube.[24]

Hate group designation

The SPLC has listed the church as an anti-gay hate group,[5][25] noting that Pastor Anderson described gays as "sodomites" who "recruit through rape", and "recruit through molestation".[4] In explaining the hate group designation, the SPLC said Anderson suggests homosexuals should be killed, and in a sermon he stated "The biggest hypocrite in the world is the person who believes in the death penalty for murderers but not for homosexuals."[4][20] A few days after the listing, Pastor Anderson stated "I do hate homosexuals and if hating homosexuals makes our church a hate group then that's what we are."

See also

References

  1. ^ "Corporate File". Arizona Corporation Commission. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Faithful Word Baptist Church. "Faithful Word Baptist Church - Phoenix, AZ". Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d James, Susan Donaldson (September 7, 2009). "Protesters Rally Against Pastor's 'Why I Hate Obama' Sermon". ABC News. Retrieved August 25, 2012. a Faithful Word congregation member who showed up outside of the Phoenix Convention Center toting an assault rifle in August, when Obama spoke there.
  4. ^ a b c d e Schlatter, Evelyn. "18 Anti-Gay Groups and Their Propaganda: Faithful Word Baptist Church". SPLC. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Lengell, Sean. "Family Research Council labeled a 'hate group'". The Washington Times. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "Doctrinal Statement". Tempe, Arizona: Faithful Word Baptist Church. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  7. ^ "Our pastor". Faithful Word Baptist Church. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  8. ^ http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/04/17/20090417borderbeating0417-ON.html
  9. ^ https://www.checkpointusa.org/blog/index.php/2009/12/16/charges_dismissed_with_prejudice_against
  10. ^ Allen Jr., Eddie B. (August 31, 2009). "Arizona Pastor Calls for Obama Death". BET. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  11. ^ Felten, David; Procter-Murphy, Jeff (2012). Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity. HarperCollins , ISBN 9780062201287
  12. ^ Blewett, James (2010). Can I Get Baptized in Fruit Punch? Tate Publishing, ISBN 9781617390142
  13. ^ Wright, John (2011). The Obama Haters: Behind the Right-Wing Campaign of Lies, Innuendo & Racism. Potomac Books, ISBN 9781597975735
  14. ^ John Avlon. (2010). Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America. Beast Books, ISBN 9780984295104
  15. ^ King, Colbert I. (September 20, 2009). "Obama haters see him as the enemy". Nashua Telegraph. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  16. ^ Brody, David (August 31, 2009). "A Hateful "Sermon" Against President Obama". CBN. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Sundby, Alex (September 8, 2009). "Minister in Spotlight After Obama Death Prayers". CBS News. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c "Phoenix Pastor Draws Protests After Telling Church He Prays for Obama's Death". Fox News. August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  19. ^ Hodges, Corey J. (September 11, 2009). "Preacher's anti-Obama sermon goes against the Bible". Salt Lake Tribune. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  20. ^ a b Doland, Gwyneth (December 4, 2009). "Kokesh and the guy who brought an assault rifle to an Obama event". New Mexico Independent. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  21. ^ Reid, Betty (September 6, 2009). "Church defends pastor; protesters rally". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  22. ^ King, Colbert I. (September 18, 2009). "Obama needs prayers amid growing hostility". The Washington Post. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  23. ^ Reid, Betty (September 6, 2009). "Church defends pastor; protesters rally". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, AZ. p. B.8. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  24. ^ Doland, Gwyneth (December 4, 2009). "Kokesh and the guy who brought an assault rifle to an Obama event". The New Mexico Independent. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  25. ^ King, James. "Tempe Church Labeled Hate Group; Pastor Tells New Times Government Should Put Homosexuals to Death". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
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