Messer to Represent MBC in Jeff City

By Allen Palmeri

The Christian Life Commission (CLC) of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) has brought onboard Kerry

Messer to be their legislative liaison for the 2004 State Legislature, according to CLC Chairman Rodney Albert, pastor, First Baptist Church, Hallsville, MO. Messer, a member of First Baptist Church, Festus, said that Missouri Baptists have been without a voice in the state capitol for about a decade.“Legislators have been asking for a number of years, where are the Missouri Baptists?” Messer said. “I will now have the opportunity of saying here we are.” Messer is entering his 20th year as a lobbyist in Jefferson City. His primary interest has been his work for Missouri Family Network, a pro-family organization he founded. He will now wear two hats.

Kerry Messer

Albert said Messer will be watching such issues as homosexual marriage, gambling, abortion, bioethics, euthanasia and the liquor industry.

“We think there is pretty good unanimity among Missouri Baptists on some key issues,” Albert said. “Those are the issues we want to plug into and use the full force of our convention to say ‘let’s go this way.’

“The gambling interests are tireless in getting the laws of Missouri changed to their advantage. That means that poor and disadvantaged people are going to be exploited in this state, and that’s clearly something the Bible tells us as Christians to watch out for and to work against. So that’s going to be a big issue.

“We continue to move toward a pro-life philosophy in this state, and I would expect to see more of that. So he’ll be helping to frame that agenda.”

Albert said that Messer will be giving reports frequently to the CLC. “Our relationship will be tight,” the chairman said.

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Allen Palmeri is a staff writer for The Pathway the official newspaper of the Missouri Southern Baptist Convention.