Dirty Play At Church

Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church isn't so hot on free will when it comes to race. A vote had been enforced banning interracial couples from being members of the church. The article quoted below also states that the vote wasn't taken when the full body was present to vote. Some church members tried to use religion to enforce their bigotry and they almost succeeded.

So let me make sure I am getting this straight: a handful of bigots took it upon themselves to banish members from a church based on their race? Oh not quite, I see the difference. It only matters when the other part of the equation is white. So if the black folks mind their place and keep to themselves the church has no problem with their existence. How sad and how wrong that is.

The only ray of hope is that when the vote was taken by all members who wanted a voice, it was repealed. Yay, mixed race couple can again bask in God's light with Gulnare Baptist's approval. What is sad is that it ever came up for vote in the first place. It's gross to me that those who would exclude people from a place of worship based on the race of their partner are still allowed to be in the church. The people who broke the trust of their fellow members, the ones who brought shame to their church, the idiots who do not understand God's promise to love each of His children equally.

In a 9-6 vote last week, church members backed a proposal to bar interracial couples from becoming members. The vote stemmed from a visit in June by the white daughter of a church member and her fiance, who is from Zimbabwe, to sing a hymn.

Stepp said the Sandy Valley Conference of Free Will Baptists on Saturday declared the initial vote, in which not all members of the church participated, null and void, the Associated Press reports.

He says he informed church members Sunday about the conference's decision and proposed the new resolution to promote "peace, love and harmony."

This story hits home for me for many reasons. I see racism everywhere and the shady ways in which it rears its head. I am also from an area where religion is used to bully and mistreat anyone who believes differently. It's not just a snob thing, it affects every part of life in a small town. I remember when our local mechanic had to move away from the area after a "discussion" with a local pastor, who then told his church to unite and stop using his services. Several folks felt bad about it, but they starved a man out of town because he stood up and said no to their stupidity, politely and courageously.

From the racist church to controlling which businesses church members can visit, none of these scenarios are rare. They're not at all special. They're the manifestation of racism, hatred, the need to control and the desire to make everyone see things your way. That isn't religion, that's a gross abuse of mob mentality. Right now there are thousands of examples just like this going on in small towns all over the U.S. We have a long way to go. Removing a ban on interracial couples is a good start. Putting a ban in place that forbids mistreatment of people regardless of race or gender would be even better.

Cross-posted at Angry Black Lady Chronicles.