Was Walter Martin An Ordained Minister?

Walter Martin was ordained a Baptist minister on July 16, 1951 at the First Baptist Church of Hempstead, NY. He was warned that if he divorced, his ordination would be revoked. He subsequently beat up his first wife, and was divorced in 1953, whereupon his ordination as a Baptist minister was promptly revoked. Permanently.

He lied his entire life about his ordination, claiming for instance in a Certification to the court regarding a request for child support on the part of his SECOND wife, Elaine (who he also allegedly viciously beat), that he was an "ordained minister of the American Baptist Convention in good standing". The American Baptist Churches of America (ABC), in a letter dated Oct 1, 1984, said that Martin is not listed in the American Baptist Churches’ Professional Registry, nor in their Directory of Professional Church Leaders, and that that meant that he "Martin "has no standing in our denomination". It was signed by the Rev. Linda C. Spoolstra, Executive Director.

The American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest, in a letter dated Oct 2, 1984, said that they "have no record of Mr. Martin", and that they had searched the their records in the regional office, and found no trace of him there either. Their conclusion? "As far as we are aware of it, Mr. Martin does not appear to be an ordained Baptist minister". It was signed by Delight E. Macies, Administrative Asst. to Dr. W. Lowell Fairley, Executive Minister.

Martin then seemingly tires of the American Baptist Convention scam, and switches gears, claiming instead to be an ordained minister of the SOUTHERN Baptist Convention, which he indicated in his bio in the American Biographical Institute, on pg. 567. He further reiterated this claim UNDER OATH on Aug 14, 1975 in a deposition that was part of his lawsuit against Bruce A. Johnson and the LDS Church (which was subsequently laughed out of court). He further reiterated this ordination in a bio he submitted to "Who’s Who in Religion, published in 1977 by Marquis. He further reiterated this ordination in the Spring 1980 newsletter of CRI, which he founded and directed.

The Southern Baptist Convention, on the other hand, in a letter dated Aug 22, 1984, states clearly that "Evidently, he is not Southern Baptist, NOR IS HE ORDAINED". It was signed by Barbara Denman on behalf of the SBC.

The Southern Baptist General Convention of California affirmed this in a letter dated Sept 21, 1984, which states, "there is no record of any Southern Baptist ordination.. rather an opportunity on Mr. Martin’s part to USE THAT CHURCH to FURTHER HIS OWN AGENDA." It was signed by Rev. Robert D. Hughes, Executive Director/Treasurer.

Walter Martin himself became exceptionally defensive on the Bible Answer Man broadcast of Aug 22, 1984 when asked about his ordination credentials, abruptly cutting off the caller in mid-sentence. On the broadcast of Sept 25, 1984, Martin again claimed to be a Southern Baptist Minister, and again cut the caller off the air when he asked about Martin’s ordination credentials. Later on in the same broadcast to another caller, Martin again lied about his ordination. He even claimed it in print, on the back cover of "Maze of Mormonism".

Anti-Mormons have been scurrying for years to explain away Martin's obvious fraud, and are very quick to point out that it was the MESSAGE that Martin brought, not the messenger. And interestingly enough, these are the same individuals who in the very NEXT breath hypocritically condemn Joseph Smith.. not necessarily for what he taught, but for the personal foibles and human weaknesses he exhibited while alive.

For more information, read They Lie In Wait To Decieve, Volume 3 by Robert and Rosemary Brown.

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Last Updated June 12, 2006
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