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Subscribe to RSSA tiny, all-white Appalachian church in rural Kentucky that voted to bar interracial couples from its congregation will be asked to overturn its decision, its pastor said Friday.
Stacy Stepp, pastor of Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church, told the Lexington Herald-Leader that he will ask members to reconsider the decision, perhaps as early as Sunday.
"We're going to get it resolved," Stepp told the Kentucky newspaper.
The church was drawn harsh criticism this week after its members voted 9-6 on the resolution, which says the church "does not condone interracial marriage" or allow such couples to join or take part in certain worship activities.
The church member who crafted the resolution, Melvin Thompson, said he called the matter an "internal affair."
"I am not racist. I will tell you that. I am not prejudiced against any race of people, have never in my lifetime spoke evil about a race," said Thompson, the church's former pastor who stepped down earlier this year. "That's what this is being portrayed as, but it is not."
Church secretary Dean Harville disagreed: He said the resolution came after his 24-year-old daughter, Stella Harville, visited the church this summer with her 29-year-old fiancé, Ticha Chikuni of South Africa.
Harville, a longtime member who serves also as the church clerk, said the couple attended worship service; she played the piano as he sang a song called "I Surrender," NBC New York reported.
Harville said Thompson, who had been pastor for many years, told him in August that the pair couldn't sing at the church again.
In November, Thompson proposed the church go on record saying that while all people were welcome to attend services, the church did not condone interracial marriage. A vote at the church affirmed his stance. Most in the congregation did not vote.
NBC New York’s Greg Wilson, msnbc.com's Sevil Omer and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Earlier: Kentucky church bars interracial couples
More news and feature stories from msnbc.com:
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I always wondered how folks in Kentucky could vote for people like Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell. Neither of these two senators could give a damn about poor or middle class people. They are two of the biggest protectors of Big Business. The Koch brothers LOVE McConnell and Paul. McConnell and Paul will always support Big Business shipping jobs overseas, denying the average Kentuckian the chance to get a good job. For those in the coal mines, McConnell and Paul will always side with deregulating the coal industry and getting rid of the safety regulations that protect the miners while they're in the mines. How many more mine accidents must Kentuckians endure?
After reading this article, I'm beginning to understand a little more how they get elected.
Religion. The bane of the human race.
.
Religion has been pretty rough on the human race, but this is definitely not representative of many religions. This is a case of racism. Islam might be excluded from "many religions" as well, since they would simply execute the interracial infidels. Allah Akbar!
Bull crap Pablo, not representative of religions? Religion in general cultivates and promotes fear, racism, bigotry, discrimination and deceit. The folks in Kentucky might be in fact the most honest of them all none the less a bunch of inbreds. It is the bane of the human race and nothing will ever be good because of it, they speak with fork tongues and I would not trust any one who is religious.
I'm a native of Kentucky. But, if asked, I change the subject by telling people that I'm the guy who kept track of the money at MF Global. It is much less embarrassing.
"I'm not a racist". My. Big. Butt.
Sorry, Shorty. It's too late to un-ring that bell.
A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Perhaps this Church needs to re-read their Bible.
Harold of the Rocks is a dishonest blogger who tries to cover-up his personal political agenda with a weak reference to the news article.
This news article is about a Kentucky church's stance on interracial relationship. It has nothing to do with politic. Harold of the Rocks exploits this forum to attack certain political candidates with his lies and innuendoes. To masquerade his hit-and-run attacks as germain to the news article, his last sentence casually references back to the news article as if such a trick will persuade readers that his political attacks have any connection to the news topic. This is an obvious decoy that exposes his dishonesty as well as lack of imagination.
Harold of the Rock, you're busted!
These crazy racist Christians are just saying what most Christians (in the south anyway) want to say but are afraid to... the southern USA is a festering pool of bigotry and ignorance not unlike the Dark Ages.
This is pathetic and a little embarrassing that this kind of overt hatred is still being preached in America in 2012. I guess we still have a long way to go before we can claim to be a free and tolerant country.
Shame on the Baptists...
FatCat... most of us aren't asleep about who is voting. The article is obviously about a church that is so racist they will not let a couple who are related to the church secretary worship there. Then, Harold notes that the same people who vote for racism in their little churches are the kinds of people who vote against their best interest when it comes to national representation; it is called discussing the issue FatCat, and is not off topic. My sister lives in Kentucky, and she doesn't vote that way, but she also goes to a church that welcomes all people and has some African pastors: the Roman Catholic Church, a haven of liberalism compared to those little Baptist churches. Need I tell you that she didn't vote for Paul or McConnell? If we separate the people who live in America from the people who vote, and the problems that America faces, we will not solve the problems, but just wallow in more ignorance.
I was raised as a Roman Catholic, and they are not institutionally racist, but liberal?????
This is the crowd that is actively working for things like "personhood" ammendments and stopping the use of birth control. Hardly liberal.
I live in Hawaii, at my wife's school it is written that: "diversity is our strength'. All the kids know this. Here people are not bi-racial, they are multiracial. Even our president is of Kenyan, English, Irish decent. Someday the rest of America will catch up to Hawaii's progressive attitude toward race and a multiracial, multicultural society. As regard to religion, as a follower of the Teachings of Baha'u'llah, I see only one race, the human race in all of it's endless diversity as created by God and all equal in His sight. In our religion inter-racial marriages are encouraged because that will help bring about the harmony of the family of man!
Pablo Escobar- You seem to know nothing about Islam. There is NOTHING in Islam that prohibits interracial marriage. I have met many interracial couples who are Muslim. I'm white of European descent and my wife is from Indonesia. Her family and neighbors wanted to see what mixed race children look like. Our kids are so cute! and her family and neighbors think so too.
Barlow-1919963 I call BS on your tolerance claims in HI. They may post all their pretty signs/sayings but that is as far as it gets. If you aren't Hawaiian or Samoan they want you to go away,,,, just leave your dollars. There are schools that you MUST be Hawaiian to attend. That means 1/32 or better. Does Castle and Cook still control all the BILLIONS in real estate there? Do they still hold SHAM "lotteries" to purchase affordable housing? Nope they aren't racist.. they just ignore you if you aren't "Native". Much like the south has done for centuries to non whites.
Yes there is history of why the native people feel the way they do but don't spout "tolerance" when it isn't practiced any further than what this "church" is claiming.
The church should be forced to remove the 'Free Will' from their name.
Racism is well & alive in this country without a doubt. Now you shouldn't wonder why the right who claims to be religious attacks Obama. Even if the constitution is suppose to separate religion and government, it doesn't do a very good job.
I have to agree with Mike on this if that Damm Abe (Republican) Lincoln had not freed the slaves to begin with this would not even be a topic.
Oh the good ole days .. All the blacks had jobs ,none of them were in jail or even thinking of doing crimes
and they had free housing and health care too . Oh and the economy was a lot better to boot.
Should have said ..back when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel and liberals were all scared.
Religion strikes again for the betterment of mankind.
Yes, because 15 people (technically only 9) represent all of Christendom.
In my personal experience with religion, the few tend to outweigh the many, so yes, the 9 that voted yes represent the majority of hypocrisy.
I think it is only fair to give Christians some credit for improving their racist attitudes towards black people to the point that many white churches fully accept interracial marriage and their children. Just from 20 years ago I see a BIG difference and a real improvement.
It does have to be a little embarrassing though to Christians that racism is still so prevalent within their ranks. Although things have changed and improved you almost always find that in America racists are also Christians. I can't remember the last time I saw a report of a racist atheist... It is just rare NOT to find racism and religion to be linked.... perhaps the whole notion that Christians are "chosen" by god to be "saved" and therefore obviously divinely-superior only reinforces racist attitudes. Perhaps racism is just a necessary by-product of Christian dogma?
Racism is by no means a by-product of Christian dogma, which says that all nations are one in Christ. However, the history of churches in America often is: people cling to the cultural institution where their parents went, where they feel their families are understood and sustained, where particular favorite hymns, services, and even foods are familiar. Often, in one or two generations, languages die out; recipes are lost; music loses its character; and a theological perspective is no longer taught. It would be great if we could keep the cultures without throwing away respect and welcome for all. To exclude people is not Christian; they didn't read the New Testament.
@S. McIlnay - Hi, my name is Stalin and I agree with you. Your over generalization based on the opinions of a few is indeed correct. Please continue to ignore all common sense and any thin grasp on reality you may have.
@drewbot7 - My grasp on reality is quite fine, I don't believe in fairy tales.
Hopefully all you atheists are working during the religious holidays.
Any past, present, or future Pastor who responds to the question of his churches internal activity as, "I am not racist. I will tell you that. I am not prejudiced against any race of people, have never in my lifetime spoke evil about a race," IS, DOES, HAS BEEN, and WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
They will not Tolerate interracial couples, "Cuz They is God fearin Folks. However, as God fearin, Red blooded, red necked, Hillbillies, In breeding and incest is OK.
BIGOT, BIGOT, BIGOT!!! You should study the genetic record of humankind. Everyone, has traceable ancestory back to central Africa. Get over it.
The Church is going in reverse at warp speed. First, the church bans gay couples. Now they're banning interracial couples. Don't these Chri$tian$ ever get tired of hating?
Well to be fair, I doubt a vote by 15 people in what sounds like a fairly small church is representative of the Christian community as a whole. You have a point on the gay marriage thing, but I think this interracial marriage thing is an aberration as shown by the current pastor trying to reverse the decision.
Unfortunately, no.The entire point of organizations such as this is for a group of losers to get together and try to convince each other that they are somehow superior to other human beings.
Actually doing things to better themselves and improve their lot in life would take too much energy and too much brain power.
Indignant halo-If you believe these hillbilly yahoos represent christianity then go forth and spew your vitriol,however,it appears you would be the ignorant "hater"-condemning billions because they don't follow your moralphobic beliefs.
It's more prevalent than you think.
Verona: Most white, conservative, Republican Christians don't hate blacks. They just hate jiving equal rights to blacks, equal pay when blacks do equal work, equal punishment when blacks do equal crime, equal promotion when blacks have equal success.
Just look at how white Christians have treated the first black president. Or do you not remember all the "@!$%#" and "Obama the magic monkey", "antichrist", and other hateful slogans your ilk has unleashed?
Well since blacks don't make is much as whites that would mean obamas salary is considerably less than the rest of the white presidents right? BTW I love how its only white Christians who want him out of office
Typical right wing 'murica. We're still fighting those dipsh*ts from the south.
TheSwine
I hate to break it to you; but the MAJORITY of the dipsh*ts from the south, originally, CAME FROM THE NORTH.
Of two things we can always be assured . Christians along with Americans in general are going to search out and find someone different than themselves and work to kill them . Its always been that way and always will be .
Mal' achi- What are you talking about? Many of these people have been there for generations! Quit trying to blame the Souths shame and racism on the North. Many places in the South have changed, for the better, maybe with the influx of people from the North. But there are pockets in the South that still think it is 1950.
Kentucky didn't secede, and isn't technically part of the South.
So nobody wants to claim them?
"The Swine" speaks volumns about you.
"Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said that America has come a long way in confronting racial inequality - but that America will never be race blind..."
With that said; "...second verse is same as the first...": Thank God our forefathers had the foresight to attach the Separation of Church and State Amendment to our Constitution.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ....”
There are always limits. No matter what your religion, you still can't perform human sacrifice, for example.
But you can eat peyote, which is otherwise illegal.
So can they discriminate based on race? I honestly don't know.
Hey maybe the congregation didn't like his/their singing.
Too little and a whole lot too late! What we should be telling people in the South and everyplace else is to stay away from the Baptists! What this church did was so horribly wrong that it defies description. These people are not Christian. They are not humane. They live in the dark ages and practice a form of Christianity that would shock Jesus himself. They have absolutely no understanding of humankind or the global world in which we live. They are ignorant of equal and civil rights. They always have been. That's why it took so long to win freedom and voting rights for black people in the South. The press should be all over this group, giving them the worst publicity in their long, sordid racist history.
Why would they worry about the press? They can't read.
(And don't tell me they read the bible. They memorize it during recitation at services. Ask a S.Baptist any verse and they will have it off the top of their head.)
I'm not of that denomination, but there are two kinds of Baptists: 1. American Baptists who were the driving force behind the abolitionist movement and equality, and 2. Southern Baptist who were the driving force behind any notion about separating people from each other. These are still two separate "conventions," meaning not the same church at all. And the "American Baptists" predate the "Southern Baptists" by a while.
There are also Reformed Baptists, such as Charles Spurgeon and the Original Southern baptists.
And there are Freewill Baptists such as the Southern Baptists of today.
Yep, the Southern Baptists did a 180 and no longer follow their founders, such as James Petigru Boyce.
All I can say is Wow.
I never heard about the original ban.
I hope those folks come to know the Lord someday, so far they don't have a clue as to what Jesus is all about.
ok, when anyone gets to know the Lord let us know.
One thing we all know . Death count in the Bible . It reads like a Quentin Tarentino movie . God = 2.3 million killed . Satan = about 10 , maybe 8 depending on interpretation . Wheres the grace ?
Grace is for those that seek him.
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
So who are "His People"? Everyone? No.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
There is Grace, but not for everyone.
J, that all had nothing to do with people of different skin tones or cultures marrying.
Ram
It was in response to EastRowan
J you are free to believe that if you wish . That book was written by the 1%ers of the time . By its design its made to keep you afraid and ignorant . Its doing a fine job .
East
Hardly the 1% since the first Christians were poor, socialists.
Really ? So the poor throughout time have been the most literate ? Pretty eloquent writing for paupers dontcha think ? Dont be a putz .
They were poor because they gave it away - what part of Socialist do you not understand?
Read about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.
Or the Rich Young Ruler that Jesus commanded to sell everything he had and give to the poor in Luke 18.
They were educated but gave away their wealth.
Much more important life and spiritual lessons can be learned from The Cat in the Hat .
That does appear to be your maturity level.
Every bit as valid as the Magic man in the sky .
Your opinion only - which doesn't really have much value.
racism is alive and well. this is no different than all black schools, all black scholarships, all black sports teams, all black telivision stations.... come on now. why is it the only ones who are ever racist are white people? they didnt say no black people they said no interacial couples. maybe thair church doesnt believe in mixed race couples? the same way that some churches force abortion views they are suporting a view. you dont have to agree with it. they're perfectly within their right to think that way. if its offensive to you, then join a different church.
You are correct, they are within their rights to think this way.
Just as I am within my rights to call them evil, racist, scum-sucking bigots and do everything in my power to help keep this story in the headlines for as long as it takes to make enough people leave this temple of hatred and intolerance and they have no choice but to close.
It's just like watching cockroaches scurry when you turn on the lights...
@Hartvig Lein
I couldn't agree more. I am so tired of these so called Christians making life even harder for people then it is already.
"Join a different church"...That is so unacceptable on so many different levels. I would have a tendency to make this one just go away. They're a stain on Christianity that needs to be removed.
Next time you have black skin, come and talk to me about racism.
really? how much racism do you think you encounter on the day to day? cuz i deal with it EVERY DAY. im just not allowed to talk about it because im white. Did you know that police stations and fire stations have quotas on the amount of blacks they have to have in their departments so as not to appear racist? 2 guys apply for a job, one white and one black. the white guy scores higher on his entrance exam, passes all his courses with better scores, but the black guy gets the job and becomes an officer. why? because hiering the white guy would put them under quota. now tell me why thats fair? personally i dont care what color the mans skin is as long as hes the best man for the job but we dont have the best men we have a filled quota. i cant say im proud to be white because it makes me a racist but you can be proud to be black all day long. you know why there were slaves in this country? because they assumed that all the tribes in africa were savages. not because of the color of their skin, but because a few hundred years before that, african tribes invaded europe and raped and pillaged italians, germans, greeks, and britains just to name a few. but i bet they dont teach that in any history class in high school because its not PC enough. I cant walk down a street numbered anything lower than 200 because ill get called out just for the color of MY skin. im so tired of black people complaining they're the only ones dealing with predjudice. what about the chinese, the mexicans, the peurto ricans, the jews etc. no. its always white against black. every time one of you cries racism everyone looks and you useually get your way. thats not to say all black people are like that, but enough are that it makes everyone around you think youre that way. im not your enemy sunshine. go talk to the ignorant people of your own race so you quit being steryotyped as ignorant and selfish and maybe the ignorant people of my race wont think that way every time we see you.
you wanna stop racism? quit playing the race card.
Hartwig - Your remarks are unwarranted, hateful and amount to character assasination which is against the law. Agree or not, you folks who call others such names should be ashamed of yourselves. You only degrade yourself. Your blog should be removed.
That all sounds interesting, but saying no interracial couples is saying that couple who may be perfectly following the general rules of a given church shouldn't be together solely because of the skin tone of one member of the couple. Now why else would they care if they didn't think one member wasn't as good as or acceptable as the "acceptable" member? Really, it is racism and if you are honest you must admit it's based on feeling that one skin tone or country of origin is superior to another. Otherwise why would a person care if two different toned people married? If you think both are of equal value and are worthy of respect why discourage them from marrying or include them in your activities...it is racism, pure and simple.
A piece of ham is still a dead pig no matter how you cook it or dress it up.
Sally, I don't think you are police material with your attitudes about other people. But, if you are interested in Medieval history, there was no time when blacks invaded Europe. There were invasions by Muslims, but they were mostly not Africans but Asian Arabs. This real history is very interesting; it brought Algebra to Europe, which is regrettable because it brought about a much greater interest in science, and later electricity, and these drn computers. You wouldn't have another bill every month if it weren't for them.
Really? Because if history serves me right in 700AD Africans invaded Spain. In 827AD they invaded Sicily. They occupied until the early 1400's. In the later 1400's the northern Europeans started taking them on as slaves. Kharma sucks. Check your history. You can't even use the Muslims as a diversion from the point. How many African Americans have claimed to be Muslim or converted to being Muslim? They're all the same people. That's like saying im from Georgia and that makes me different from someone from New York. To somebody from another country that doesn't mean anything. To them were both Americans. Whether were from the north or the south doesn't matter.
Richard @ 11.6
" Your remarks are unwarranted, hateful and amount to character assasination which is against the law. "
Really?
Let's review:
1) unwarranted- the resolution they passed: "the church "does not condone interracial marriage" or allow such couples to join or take part in certain worship activities." sounds pretty racist to me. Or do you have another word for it? And ALL the members of the congregation, including the current and former pastors, need to be held to account for not immediately and forcefully denouncing this blatantly racist action.
2) hateful Yes. I hate racism and racists. Sue me.
3) character assassination If the shoe fits...
4) which is against the law Feel free to bring this to the attention of the police or members of the congregation. I'm sure they'll value your legal counsel.
You're totally within your rights to call them racist. That's your opinion and your right as an American to say so. But before you go on a witch hunt for white supremacy you should really look at what is actually happening. The church is not saying that people of color can't join just that they don't condone marriage between two races. If he had said no ones allowed but whites then you could have a solid case of racism. It's no different than prthadpx jews only being allowed to marry other orthadox Jews or Muslims only marrying Muslims etc. There are more people in the world that think this way than you think.
Sally Taylor @ 11.11
" just that they don't condone marriage between two races"
If you look in to the history of human genetics you will find that it is replete with racism from it's very beginning and that the very concept of race as most people view it is a complete and utter fallacy. Go back in your family tree far enough, be you Inuit or Australian aboriginal or my very own off-the-boat immigrant grandparents from Norway, and you will find a hodge-podge of "racial" intermingling that makes the concept of subdivision of humanity absurd. Any genetic trait that supposedly can be used to separate by race is no more substantive than markers that can be used to trace your family's place of origin, regardless of the supposed "race" of those family members or other factors completely unrelated to race such as religious heritage. People may have what they perceive as cultural objections to "interracial" marriages but at it's core and by their very nature those arguments are racist.
Second, as to your assertion that anyone can be a racist. You are correct. Louis Farrakhan is a much a racist as David Duke. And people like Al Sharpton use race to play on peoples emotions just as televangelists play on their fears and snake oil salesmen prey on the sick. But to compare the extent and impact their racism has had on the different populations is nonsensical. It's unfair that a better qualified candidate may have been denied a promotion. But to compare that to decades of entire populations being denied fundamental rights like voting or health care or property rights and say that they are somehow equal is nothing short of mind-boggling. And as far as you assertion that "african tribes" invaded medieval Europe you are obviously referring to Muslim Seljuk Turks and Andalusian Moors who made some mostly small scale incursions into Europe in response to the Roman Catholic backed Crusades. As far as your claim for barbarity goes, it's highly unlikely they were anywhere near as "barbarous" in their treatment of the local populations as their Christian Crusader counterparts were of theirs. And as to why this action should cause Europeans to view black Africans as savages when both of these groups were overwhelmingly MidEastern or Berber in decent you go completely off the track.
And finally, as to your assertion that there are way more people that think this way than I think: I don't care.
It's wrong and I intend to call people out on it wherever and whenever I encounter it.
That's fine call out anyone who thinks differently than you. But isn't that exactly what you're fighting? You completely contadict yourself. If were going by your theory that there are no seperations of race then whether they were middle eastern or straight up African they were still brown skinned people invading north of their borders. Second, I don't care what happened in the crusades. I have no heritage to anyone who participated in the crusades or American slavery for that matter, just simply stating it happened. But if you want to lump me in with all of those people ill be more than happy to lump you in with these same "hateful racists" you're arguing about simply because you may be chriatian. But again just going by your theory. Also, due to my recessive genes that are quickly dying out because of interacial marriage, I can confidently say I know where my ancestors started and none of them were of colored decent. And that's basic genetics. You can go marry a chick of different color and have plenty of pretty mixed babies and ill never say a word against it. But it doesn't make me a racist to want my kids to have the same color skin hair and eyes that I do.
Since you want to pretend like you know everything about my heritage ill give you a little history.
fact red hair has been around since 2000BC.
fact it is caused by a genetic mutation the MC1R gene which was not discovered until 1995. People with a mutation in the MC1R gene make another type of melanin called pheomelanin. This causes my pale skin and freckles rarely associated with those who have brown or even tan skin.
fact I have blue eyes which according to genetiscist Dr. Barry Starr of Stanford university is only caused in colored people if they have 1. Caucasian ancestors 2. A rare disease that causes albino eyes or 3. A mutation in the genes of their eyes and even with all 3 of those factors it is still a rare occurance. Especially my shade of blue which registers a 16 on the Martin scale.
Now that we've established I am not African let's establish my own peoples brush with hatred.
The ancient Egyptians used to burn red heads to wipe the color out of their bloodlines. Eve is depicted as a redhead in st johns cathedral under the belief that her hair must have been this color or she would not have been tempted by sin thus starting the downfall of all creation. Her son Cain, as well as the infamous Judas are also always depicted as redheads in connection with their backgrounds. During the spanish inquisition of you were found to have red hair you were believed to have stolen fire from the devil and were burned. The Brahmins were forbidden to marry redheads so as not to dirty their bloodlines. From 1483-1784 witch hunts were conducted resulting in 45,000 women being tortured and burned with red hair and freckles being a major component in their conviction.in America for years redheads were regaurded as racially inferior for years in association with their probable Irish heritage. In Germany Adopt Hitler banned 2 redheads from getting married to avoid devient offspring. In 2001 a man was found guilty of disorderly conduct with the judge being quoted as saying he must have a temper since he had red hair. In 2005 an episode of southpark aired with an empahsis on hatred towrds fingers resulting in a wave of hate crimes against red heads. In 2008 national kick a ginger day was founded with 5000 people participating in the first year. in Corsica if you pass a redhead on the street you are to spit and turn around to avoid bad luck. Within recent years studies have been started to see if the MC1R gene is prevelent in serial killers and rapeists so they may be easier to point out. Just this year sperm banks have stopped accepting diners with red hair for the lack of want of red headed children. In Africa albino redheads are ritually killed. The commision for racial equality says its not their job to protect against any of this because its technically not a race issue. There are less than 3% of natural redheads left in the world and it has been determined the recessive MC1R gene will die out in the next 100 years. So you fricken bigot tell me again I can't feel the way I do because as history shows all the way into the present people who look like me have been targeted and are becoming increasingly targeted. I'll say what I want to about discrimination thank you.
I wish some of the Red States would just secede so they could practice their un-American, bigoted Theocracy without embarrassing the rest of the United States.
Nothing is ever made better by adding Christianity to the list of ingredients.
Not everyone in the south feels that way...just thought I would mention that...some of us are totally embarrassed by our supposed leaders and cringe every time the nonsense and hatred comes out of their mouths. Ick.
However, I've read that the votes are more often hacked in the red states. Every polling place needs watchers, including computer systems analysts, to make sure that the vote is actually real. There is too much corruption in some of those places.
The subtext of this story is that the mixed race couple failed to grease the collection plate as it passed by. You'd be surprised at how much "salvation," "tolerance," and Christian love can be obtained by a healthy "contribution." Deacon Thompson's comment ~ "I am not racist. I will tell you that. I am not prejudiced against any race of people, have never in my lifetime spoke evil about a race" is the biggest line of horsesh*t I've heard lately. Sorry, Brother ~ your actions speak for you.
End tax exemption for all churches. No more hard earned tax dollars funding racism, bigotry, homophobia.
I think I figured out why you only have 15 members.
They have about 50 members - only 6 chose to stand up to racism and vote against banning interracial couples. SICK...
They got pressure from me that's for sure. Went to the Freewill Baptist Church main website and Let Them Have It. Sure many others did as well. They were probably pressured into doing this, like it or not because of the backlash.
Stueystu: Publish the website so that we can all let them know just how disgusting this is
To let them know what you think about this church contact the National Association of Free Will Baptists: type in the Church, which I'm sure they'll already know beforehand.
Website is: www.nafwb.org
Peace
And they always do that, without blinking, look you in the eye, as the Lord is their Savior, spew:
"I am not racist. I will tell you that. I am not prejudiced against any race of people, have never in my lifetime spoke evil about a race," said Thompson, the church's former pastor who stepped down earlier this year. "That's what this is being portrayed as, but it is not." Blah, blah, blah....
And they call themselves Christian. Or whatever Moral code of religion they follow. Do they think people are stupid? Do they think people will believe their lies? Damn. Why do they do that?
I am completely disgusted with these so-called Christians. Sadly, this is so typical of many, many supposed "Christian" people and denominations. Too many are hateful, judgmental, greedy and two-faced.
In my congregation, with 100-some attendees, there are at least 5 - 6 mixed marriages - probably more than that, but that's all I can recall off the top of my head. And we don't live in a predominately minority area, either. But at least 1/3 of my brothers and sisters are minorities and many are in mixed marriages. There are some Christians out there that actually practice what they preach, but it is incredibly difficult to sift through the garbage to find them...
So call this chick and invite her to your church.
If it's not "Racist" what is it then? ---- Of course it's racist & people need to address this problem harshly
Truth? None of these so-called Christians will know "Truth" until they face their own hidden bigotry & cast it out
These nuts should turn in their Jesus paraphernalia & have their Jesus Saves tattoos burnt off,,, They won't get to those Pearly Gates being racists
What a spineless mutt. Either he didn't have the courage to stand against hateful members of his church or he doesn't have the strength to withstand the public outrage over his twisted views. Either way he's a coward.
Yeah! A good Hellfire sermon followed by a resignation would go a long way toward his Redemption.
They're not Christians! They're Chinos - Christians In Name Only!
Free Will
hahahahahahahaha
better change that name
I dont want my taxes funding any religion. And I am sick to death of anyone denigrating racists. Racism is as valid a belief as race-mixing, and it at least is based on reality. All of your opinions are no more valid than anyone elses, and your sickening acceptance of what you have been fed by those who controlled your educational system shows you all are a bunch of sheep, fit to be led but not to think for yourselves.
On what reality is racism based...other than hate, that is? Why is it logical at all to hate or persecute individuals solely based on their skin color or ethnic background? I do not find emotional responses, such as hate, to be a valid argument. Please provide facts backed by scientific research that show racism to be "based on reality" instead of certain people's intolerance and hate.
The reality here is that you are woefully uneducated and if you believe there is validity to not marrying outside your own skin tone then you are a pretty pitiful person yourself. Funny how you seem to think anyone who disagrees with you is a sheep led to false information when you seem to be the least educated person in this discussion so far....lol. You being fed racist propaganda or just trolling to get people all worked up?
Ram-have you ever been the subject of racist actions yourself or are you just going by what everyone else tells you its like?
What a bruhaha over nothing. Never saw a father yet who cared much for his daughters boyfriend/husband. Nor a congregation that was all concerned about a girls boyfriend either. Who cares. If the guy was white no one would give a hoot. Looks like this is another black agenda driven news piece.
lol, yeah, this is just fatherly love, not racial prejudice.
and yeah, this is the "black agenda", not an interesting piece about a group of racists still fighting the 70s.
keep telling yourself that.
Troll. Your post makes no sense and is ridiculous.