Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson
Let's say you've been attending services at a church for a couple of years, but hadn't officially become members of the church. Let's also say you've decided it's time for you and your significant other to tie the knot, so you approach the church minister and schedule a wedding date at that church. You send out invitations, you finalize your plans, and you take care of the millions of little details that go into having a church wedding.
Then out of the blue you get a phone call from the minister telling you you won't be allowed to be married in that church, after all. The reason? Some members of the congregation pitched a fit when they found out you were planning on being married in their church. Raised so much hell that the minister was afraid he'd be voted out of his position within the church if he followed through and performed the services there. So he arranged to perform the wedding at another church in town on the same day, just to keep the peace.
What possible reason could the congregation have against your wedding? Quite simple, actually. You're too black to be married there, that's all. They don't have a problem with your contributions to the collection plate on Sundays, but a wedding? Not happening.
According to this article, here's what happened:
"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.
"He had people in the sanctuary that were pitching a fit about us being a black couple," said Te'Andrea Wilson. "I didn't like it at all, because I wasn't brought up to be racist. I was brought up to love and care for everybody."
The minister of the First Babtist Church of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, Stan Weatherford, says he was surprised by the reaction of some members of his congregation.
"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," said Weatherford.
Weatherford went on and performed the wedding at a nearby church.
"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," said Weatherford.
A recent poll of registered Republicans revealed that 30% of them believe interracial marriage should be illegal. Apparently, the Christians who attend services at the First Babtist Church of Crystal Springs don't even like the idea of black folks getting married, period.
Jesus...
What year is this, again?
16 comments:
Dag, I was hoping this wouldn't make national news. LOL! This story is absolutely horrible. This city is just outside of Jackson and the fact that this type of blatant racism still exists is disturbing. And for them to threaten to vote the pastor out if he conducted the ceremony in the church is absolutely sad as well. Squat, sometimes I want to disown my state.
Q, every state has its share of idiots screwing up the landscape for everyone else. You don't have to look far to find them, and anyone who gets smug about their particular location can be brought back to earth in a heartbeat.
What I don't understand about shit like this is the Biblical message that seems to be lost on some of the followers.
Sometimes those stupid little bracelets people wear can sum it up nicely: "Who Would Jesus Shun?"
(or bomb, or deport, etc.)
People who wear their religion on their chests are usually the ones I'm afraid of. The people who thump their Bibles the loudest are the ones who don't even understand what's in it.
They certainly don't represent my religious beliefs. But then people will twist their minterpretation of the Bible to suit their own needs. Also I heard it once said that religions are like farts, yours is ok, but everyone else's stinks......
This is why we need separation of Church and State.
This leaves me speechless!
What kind of "Christans" are these?
Sqaut. Another reason why religious orders need not be tax free havens.
I would hope not only the couple stop attending that particular church, but the preacher should also seek another congregation.
UGH! I read that story too! I have to say (Sorry, Q!) that MS is one of THE most backwards states - I've not seen so much blatant segregation IN YO FACE in all of my travels. I know that racism exists everywhere, but MS almost seemed to flaunt it! Sad. Just SAD.
Spud, I think the congregation should seek out another religion, myself.
Reck, it really IS sad. Sad that the minister would comply with a few noisy bigots when his job is to serve God, not his individual church. He should have asked them if they'd like to find another church themselves instead of asking that couple to move their wedding.
I'd resign before I'd serve as a pastor to those people.
Of course, since I don't "church" I don't guess I'd make much of a pastor.
Squat- I just published a post on my travels. I thought Mississippi was so beautiful. I guess it's a good thing I didn't go to church, LOLOLOLOLO.
Reck- You want to see segregation, just come to Chicago. We just have a different way of doing things.
A gutless preacher in a racist state: where is the surprise here?
the Ol'Buzzard
Bob, they had cameras at the church today and one church lady looked as if she was going to attack the reporter with her purse. LOL! It's a bit chippy in the Crystal Springs area. If you want to see the video clip, here it is: http://alturl.com/f7mb2
Thanks for the clip, Quincy. I thought that old lady was gonna whap that reporter when she gripped that purse for a backhand. Reminded me of Sharapova at Wimbledon... only older without the nice breasts and topspin forhand... or the hair... or the legs...
On second thought, she reminded me of all the old biddies who used to attend mass at the church when I was a kid.
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