The First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, Mississippi refused to perform a wedding for a couple who regularly attend there because they are African American. What's more, they told the pastor if he performed the wedding, he would be voted out.
The Pastor says he went ahead and performed the wedding at a different location because he didn't want controversy to interfere with the wedding. But I think the Pastor was wrong. He allowed a racist minority of that church to bring shame on that entire congregation. He should have stood up for what is right and told those members of his church that they were wrong.
Is he the shepherd or just another sheep? Why should be allow a few ignorant people - who are clearly wrong - to control the decision?
The church was founded in the late 1800s and has never performed a wedding for a black couple. This would have been a quiet and wonderful historical event for the congregation, a way to demonstrate its growth beyond antebellum racism. Instead, it is another mark of shame on the American south.
Congratulations Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson. I hope you find a loving new church that has grown Above Your Raisin'.
Amen!! Small towns in the south (yes, even here in Texas)contain more hypocrites in church than out. The racism is often very subtle and only whispered. This event proved it is still alive and well, much to the shame of many of us.
ReplyDelete