FORT WORTH - The Southern Baptist Convention is reacting after News 8 showed a message from a Southern Baptist preacher teaching Fort Worth seminary students that the birth control pill equals murder.

In a controversial sermon to students at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Thomas White, acting as the student services vice president this month, preached that birth control is murder and called attempts at family planning selfish.

"Some of you are involved in that exact same sin," he said.

Brett Younger, a Mercer University theology professor and former senior pastor at Broadway Baptist, said he believes it's absurd to think Christian couples should hope for 10 children and they have a responsibility to "thoughtfully, prayerfully consider what's best for their family, and the world."

The Ethics & Religious Commission president for the Southern Baptist Convention reacted Wednesday to Dr. White's preaching.

"I don't believe prudent planning is rebellion against God's will as long as couples accept God may cause them to have unplanned pregnancies anyway," said Richard Land.

But, Land said he ultimately agrees with Dr. White on the subject of the birth control pill.

"It stops ovulation, meaning it stops the eggs from being released," said Kathryn Allen, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood, while explaining how the pill works.

The controversial part comes into play if an egg is somehow released, which is when the pill can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.

The view that when this happens it constitutes murder is what Allen said worries her as it gains increasing attention. However, she has estimated there is still little support.

Meanwhile, Land has issued a statement on his thoughts on the subject.

"The Southern Baptist Convention is not opposed to the use of birth control within marriage as long as the methods used do not cause the fertilized egg to abort and as long as the methods used do not bar having children altogether unless there's a medical reason the couple should not have children," he said.

E-mail chawes@wfaa.com