A planned elevation of Timothy D. Price III, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church City of St. Louis, in Missouri, to the role of Missouri State Overseer in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, has been scuttled by International Presiding Bishop Joseph Warren Walker III, after outcry over his status as a registered sex offender.
Price was slated to be installed as the Missouri State Overseer of the Charismatic Baptist denomination affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, on Sept. 16. In a statement released over the weekend, Walker said the denomination was not previously aware that Price was convicted of the second-degree rape of a 12-year-old girl in 2008 and was a registered sex offender. Walker said as soon as he became aware of the details, he took immediate action.
According to The Roys Report, Walker confronted Price at noon on Saturday, and the fellowship issued its public statement three hours later. “This information was not known to us at the time of his appointment. The moment it came to my attention, I moved swiftly and personally to address it directly with Dr. Price; there was no delay, and there will be none in how we respond,” Walker wrote. “Dr.
Price tendered his resignation immediately, and the Fellowship has accepted that resignation, effective immediately, removing him from all leadership positions and responsibilities within our organization.” While Price “will not be allowed to serve in any jurisdictional or auxiliary positions within the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship,” Walker said they had no power over Price’s role as senior pastor at First Baptist Church City of St.
Louis because “each church is autonomous and free to make its own decisions regarding its leadership.”