Scotts Creek to vote on suspending ties with TBA

Association moderator resigns

By Lynn Hotaling and Rose Hooper

Deacons at Scotts Creek Baptist unanimously voted Sunday (Nov. 24) to bring the matter before the congregation Sunday, Dec. 8, at the conclusion of the morning worship service, said Deacons' Chairman Tom McClure.

Church members would be asked to "affirm the recommendation of the deacons to suspend our participation in the Tuckaseigee Baptist Association until such time as the deacons affirm that sufficient changes have occrred to warrant re-appraisal," McClure said.

Scotts Creek Pastor Rich Peoples offered a similar statement.

Deacons decided to bring the matter to the congregation because "it is felt that the conduct of the association has not been in keeping with the character of Christ and because it is felt that this present turmoil does not further the work of the Lord in this community," said Peoples.

If the congregation agrees with the deacons' recommendation, it would mean that the church is suspending, not severing, its ties to the association, Peoples said. It would also mean the church would cease financial contributions to the TBA, and church members would not participate in the association, the pastor said.

"I resigned as parliamentarian and other offices with the association this morning," Peoples said Monday.

Should Scotts Creek's congregation approve the resolution, it would be another blow to an association that has lost six churches during the past three months and would follow this week's news of the resignation of TBA Moderator Clemmy Queen, pastor of Speedwell Baptist Church.

Queen, who stood with association leaders earlier this fall as churches withdrew, told The Herald Friday that he did not support a recent TBA decision to deny the association's Women's Missionary Union access to TBA headquarters unless the group ousted its present co-leaders, who are members of churches that are no longer part of the association.

Despite voicing his opposition to the WMU decision, Queen said he resigned for other reasons.

"I'm resigning because I've got other things to do," Queen said. "I need to concentrate on my church and my business."

Cashiers Baptist Pastor Art Fowler, who became TBA moderator when Queen resigned, said he was unaware of the Scotts Creek deacons' action and declined comment.

With regard to Queen's resignation, Fowler said he could understand if Queen's commitments to his church and business made it difficult to continue as association moderator.

"It's a full-time job being a pastor, and he has a business to run, too," Fowler said.

TBA Interim Director of Missions Claude Conard could not be reached for comment.

Action by Scotts Creek's deacons and pastor, as well as Queen's resignation as moderator, are the latest developments in a controversy that has simmered within the TBA since May.

Cullowhee Baptist and Sylva First Baptist withdrew from the association in August after the TBA credentials committee recommended that delegates from the two churches not be seated at the association's annual meeting.

Cullowhee was criticized for calling a woman, Tonya Vickery, as co-pastor. Sylva First was targeted for passing a resolution supporting Cullowhee and stating that Jesus - not the Bible - is the final authority on faith and practice.

Tuckasegee, East Sylva, Black Mountain and Deitz Memorial withdrew soon after. Among the reasons given by their pastors were the autonomy of local churches and being tired of the fighting within the association.

Back to Archive: 11/28/02.