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Subscribe to RSSMississippi congregations rally together in a town where a black couple were told they couldn't marry in a "white" church. WLBT's Roslyn Anderson reports.
Hundreds of people turned out in Crystal Springs, Miss., to support an African-American couple who says a predominantly white Baptist church where they planned to wed turned them away because of race.
The city of Crystal Springs organized the rally to send a message of unity, NBC affiliate WLBT of Jackson, Miss., reported. People held hands in prayer while First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs pastor Rev. Stan Weatherford and New Zion United Methodist Church pastor Rev. Fitzgerald Lovett embraced.
"I pray that God will take a very difficult situation and that he will turn it into good and that we will move beyond tolerating each other," Weatherford told WLBT.
Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson told WLBT last week they got the news from Weatherford the day before their long-planned nuptials.
A black couple in Mississippi say they were forbidden to wed at the predominantly white church they attend. WLBT's David Kenney reports.
"The church congregation had decided no black could be married at that church, and that if he went on to marry her, then they would vote him out the church," said Charles Wilson.
Couple say Mississippi church blocked wedding because they are black
The Wilsons regularly attend First Baptist but are not members there.
Weatherford performed the wedding at a nearby church.
Weatherford said he was taken by surprise by what he called a small minority against the black marriage at the church.
"This had never been done before here, so it was setting a new precedent, and there are those who reacted to that because of that," Weatherford said.
"I didn't want to have a controversy within the church, and I didn't want a controversy to affect the wedding of Charles and Te' Andrea. I wanted to make sure their wedding day was a special day," he said.
The leader and first African-American president of the Southern Baptist Convention said Monday that the church's decision not to marry a black couple "is unfortunate" and "an isolated incident from which pastors can learn."
"What we can learn from it is that we need to talk to our membership about issues," Luter said in an interview for the Baptist Press. "I think if the pastor would have talked to more members about this … when this situation occurred … it probably would not have happened the way it happened."
The Wilsons are apprehensive despite the show of support at the rally.
When First Baptist Church member Greg Duke approached Charles Wilson with an invitation to Sunday School "to get to know the people, not just the ones that created some problems," Wilson revealed his misgivings.
"When you say come to the church, are the same people that put us out of the church still there? How have they changed? Do we know them when we see them, because remember, when I was there last time I was told, 'Welcome,'" Wilson said according to WLBT, as he stood beside his wife.
Baptist leader: Decision not to wed black couple must be a learning experience
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""I didn't want to have a controversy within the church, and I didn't want a controversy to affect the wedding of Charles and Te' Andrea." Christ has no use for cowards who will not abide by His word. Weatherford and his racist congregation will burn in Hell.
I wouldn't go that far. Greatly shamed would be more like it.
So they have to determine how to handle "future situations." I'm sorry, last time I checked God was no respecter of race, sex, age, etc. I do not see this as a situation other than some backwoods MS ignorance that is being passed to the younger generation and the reason that we will never see the end of racism. Racism is taught and it is a shame that it continues to be taught and condoned.
Sara1920,
I agree with you totally,,.upcoming generations don't have to be taught though, it's in their genes...the result of inbreeding.
Jackieboy – Oh gee it’s not the color of his hair. Did you see the video of them in their home. (I think if you watch the video from end to end the home interview is the next video) he looks well over 50 and she looks 18-21 ish.
They should be allowed to get married and what the church did is wrong… I was pointing out that there is some cradle robbing going on. Is it legal … sure but I question the morals of anyone that age getting married to kids/young adults. Maybe she is older, but wow she looks YOUNG!!!
And maybe you can't see the forest for the trees. Or perhaps you are jealous because the good-looking gals won't have a g-d thing to do with you and your "morals."
Bruce you assume a lot. I have been (and I am with) very beautiful women. Being from Austin you may not understand what it's like to be good looking in Southern California. Jealousy has nothing to do with it. If I find myself single at 60 you won't find me a the high school (or in your case rodeo) hitting up some Senior in HS. Sorry I don't need to find a kid with daddy issues.
You seem to be quite the upstanding moral man, Kyle. How many beautiful women have you had: ten, twenty, fifty, a thousand? Being from Southern California, maybe you specialize in rich old Orange County broads who'll pay bigtime for a stud like you. Go for it, dude. Keep upholding those moral standards.
A religious institution that promotes hate?! No ... tell me it isn't true!
It all shows how some people can be manipulated thru Religion, Woe unto the united States .....
To Wit:
This is Mississippi, the DEEP south. Feelings run deep, and it's always hot outside. I am sure they did not want a black couple married in their church, that's TO much change at once!
HOWEVER
I bet a majority of Mississippi will vote for Barack Obama, or will not vote at all. WHY? Because Mitt is a Morman. From a real conservative Southerner's point of view, it is easier to vote for a CHRISTIAN black man for president that it is to vote for a MORMAN white guy.
Religion > Racism.
Only in America could one make such a Ridiculous statement / comparison. And to think many people will vote based on such thoughts .....
I weep for our country ....
OK everyone FLAME ON!
The pastor should have stood up to these bigots. Married the couple and went on with his business. No wonder people think we are the biggest hypocrite's. Actions of a few bring on the problems for many.
"No wonder people think we are the biggest hypocrite's."
You (evangelical Christians) are.
The pastor should call a business meeting and dis fellowship all who whined and acted unchrist like till they repent and ask the pastor, the couple, the church and most of all God to forgive them for their unloving behavior
Do not the Baptists have a Senate or Synod? I know other faiths have them, where a counsel decides administration, doctrines, dogma, policy, and issues. They set the standard, and govern the body of the church, unifying all the churches under that faith. How is it the Baptists keep making news and other Baptist spokesmen minimize said event by saying 'it is an exception', 'unusual', ect. Where are the leaders of the Baptists? Or are the Baptists really 'rogue' churches without one leadership, and just using the name 'Baptist' as some sort of inclusive banner to cover a multitude of extremes?
In the 21st Century, in the USA, how is it folks still have a sense of superiority based on race? The collective 'they' did not even contribute in any way to their own skin color. How does color and race alone give a sense of pride and self-importance? Just incredible!
Perhaps all of these bigotries and intolerances are all connected to the same character flaw... attraction and desire... be it homosexual, interracial, judgemental, or just plain mean.
Pretty soon it will be "no gays can get married in the church". Wait....
The pastor really screwed up. In this day and age, not only did he make a morally bad decision (and in his position, ouch!), but the media gets a hold of this and BAM! He's branded for life as a racist and bigot. He'll never live it down. Of course, maybe in his town they'll hold a parade for him. A hero. People like to associate with those that have similar thoughts and feelings.
The pastor is NOT acting as a Christian. He is not representing the Christian faith.
As for the age of the couple - who cares? No one cared when Hugh Heffner married a very young woman (I think high fives were given). I wish the couple a very happy marriage and congratulations!
One day ...
One day we will wake up from the chains of organized religion and wonder how we ever believed anything they ever said. We will realize that Biblical tales are no different than ancient Greeks believing the Sun was being carried across the sky in a chariot. Literal interpretations have stifled scientific progress since our time here began and it continues to stifle innovation, freedom of expression, and scientific discovery today. All of this and I haven't even mentioned the unthinkable harm religious institutions have wrought on mankind with wars, with their insane insistence that theirs is the only "true" religion and everyone else needs to either die or convert and their misinformation campaign on reproductive issues. Their reign of death and scientific stagnation needs to come to an end.
great post.
Very nicely said
An old man marrying a young girl?
Does he still have his teeth?
40 years differrance in age is probably what the congregation objected to.
Tax the church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well Pastor it looks like you definitely failed at your job..
There's a fundamental failure, primitive even, because to act like you're accepting means you're an entire group of liars and the chief enabler of lies is YOU, the pastor. Mr. Wilson is well within his right to denounce you all as servants of hell, and I'm guessing you don't equate your discrimination as blasphemy - because in denying Mr. Wilson, You Deny God as he is of God made in HIS image.
Maybe when Americans drop the African in front of American they will get more respect and leap forward to 2012.
It is truly hard to believe that such attitudes still prevail in 2012. The pastor seems to be a good man who was trying to make the best of a bad situation, but in truth he should have taken a stand on principle, even at the cost of his job.
Gee, I wonder what Jesus would do .......
I remember there was a time - very long ago - when I wanted to become a minister. After going to church for so many years I am an atheist. So-called Christians convinced me that there cannot possibly a God. They are among the most evil people I've ever met. I don't understand why on Earth this couple would want to remain at that church. Surely they don't think God is there.
alibaster
Strange coincidence that what kept me from believing in God for years led you to disbelieve in God-Judging God based on the behaviour of people. That is just not right. I am sooooo blessed to have realized my folly. I DID become a minister for a time and left the pulpit for the same reason I disblieved for so many years, I just can not "play the game". But I still nurture my relationship with Christ. I really do hope you find your way back to Him. BTW when I first read your post I sincerly felt sad, that does not happen often for me much any more but...just thought I would mention that.
This is why I don't go to church any longer and will not go. I think the so called God is nothing but a fake religion. Organized Religion is a conduit to the enslavement of human consciences. When people used organized religion to discriminate then what else is left for mankind to believe any more. Not until someone comes back from heaven or hell to tell me what they look and feel like, I don’t believe any of that nonsense any longer.
White people like me need to be educated as we have done so harm to many people in the name of "God". We used the same God to justify Apartheid and we used religion to enslave black Africans. Now, we are using the same "God" name to discriminate against ordinary folks. Shameful, isn't it?
wow Taylor
Drop the quilt trip my man. I doubt very seriously that YOU did most, if any, of the stuff you listed there. I know I have not. You are NOT responsible for the "sins of your ancestors". Or you skin color for that matter. I am not the least bit ashamed of my color, heritage, or even the mistakes I have made my past. I will do the best I can to do right and go on with my head up. You do the same bud. Not sure who put all the self loathing in you but they are the bad guys and they are wrong. I would like to meet them. And guess what, I DO believe in God. God never did any of that stuff you listed either...people did, and it was not you Taylor...lighten up on yourself...and God.
Prayer, the very LEAST you can do. No one's listening and it never solved anything. Same people that caused the issue are praying that it will be resolved; so don't expect anything to change anytime soon
The Pastor does not own the church. He is there as an employee. You think he should leave in protest rather than stay and try to change the attitude of his people? That would be cowardly.
If he has the courage to bring this matter up with the Board, he deserves the opportunity to do so. If he lets the matter lie quietly, hoping it will die down and never come up again... then I would call him a coward.
I think the preacher knew what he was doing was wrong. He did what he did not based on his own personal racism, but on the fear of losing his job. If he were a racist, he wouldn't have married them at all. Maybe God was testing him. If he had lost his job, he would probably have found a better church somewhere else, but we are in a recession (especially in Mississippi), so he made a bad call. He was between a a rock and a hard place. He wanted to please everyone the couple and the congregation. Sometimes you just can't please everyone. Sometimes you have to just do what is right. He made a bad call. I hope he learns from his error and comes out a wiser man.
The members of that church have as much right to their opinion, as you do yours. The couple just needed to go else where for their service. BIG DEAL
does anyone else think "jakey" is missing the entire point?
monnie you can't accuse some one of missing the point with out giving the point...
Jake when some one takes on a religion they to some degree give up their opinion for the opinion of the religion. As with the Christian Faith people are obliged to have the opinion of Christ...refusing those people to marry is in conflict with what many consider Jesus' opinion. That is what makes them hypocrites. Yes BIG DEAL.
Gosh, I'm sorry, Jake, the congregation said they'd fire me if I baptised your twins. They said twins are of the Devil..... I know you mailed the invitations, itllbealright.... we can go to the chapel at the strip mall..It's no BIG DEAL
... yet they still call themselves christians with a straight face
It's an easy problem to solve. Get married in a Black Church. End of problem. Why does every White person or White group in America have to Bow to what Black people want??? There is almost every kind of 'Black Only' thing going in this country that you could think of, but White people can't have these Same kind of things or else it's Racist. Why is that?? Can anybody answer this question?
Just had to chuckle at that. I do like simple solutions. But unlike you and me Tarzan the world thrives on complicated problems and conflict. I just want to go back to the trees and swinging on Saturday nights. I think I just gave away my age.
Tarzan7: I would like to share a quotation with you from the first night of my first class for my PhD in Policy Science: "Every complex (policy) problem has an obvious, and simple, solution. That solution is wrong." Simple solutions are attractive and desireable. Unfortunately, complex problems do require complex solutions. Perhaps the solutions can be simpler than the problems, but they are complex nonetheless.
BobW is bang on, and I agree with him 100%. I could go on and drive home my views on a lot of this discussion, but to what end? Would I sway anybody else's opinion? I doubt it. Instead, I'll just go on and try to live my life as well as I can, trying to live up top the expectations Christ voiced in his sermons, and to live by the dicta expressed in the two Great Commandments: Love God, and Love your neighbor as yourself. (Everything else is commentary.)
Here is one more example why to never believe the 'dribble from the bibble (bible)'. Organized religion is simply a 'lie' and promoted by 'hypocrites'.