Lonnie Latham, pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla., was arrested the night of Jan. 3 in Oklahoma City for “offering to engage in an act of lewdness” according to charges published in various wire reports. In an area of the city known for male prostitution, Latham allegedly asked a male undercover police officer to go with him to a local hotel for sex.
Television cameras captured him leaving the jail the next day when he stated he “was set up” and was in the area “pastoring to police.”
Latham has been pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church since 2002. He has been recording secretary for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and is one of four members representing Oklahoma on the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Baptist Press learned that Latham has resigned each of his positions.
In resigning as pastor, he spoke in person to lay leaders and staff at South Tulsa Baptist Church. The church's minister of administration, Russell Slack, said that Latham appeared contrite when he presented his resignation.
“We have obviously two functions: one is to take care of the church and one is to minister to Lonnie as a brother in Christ,” Slack said. He added that the church is moving on with its ministries.
Latham was outspoken about social and cultural issues, including opposition to tribal gaming as well as support for the state amendment to protect the traditional definition of marriage.
He also supported the report by an SBC task force that churches needed to provide productive, effective and redemptive ministry to help homosexuals leave that lifestyle.
The lewdness charge against Latham is a misdemeanor and carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. No trial date has been set.
Baptist Press