Kentucky church bans interracial couples

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J

J Tourettes

Banned
The Guardian said:
A tiny church in rural Kentucky has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its congregation, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.

Members at the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church in Kentucky voted on Sunday on the resolution, which says the church "does not condone interracial marriage".

The church member who crafted the resolution, Melvin Thompson, said he is not racist and 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."
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More at the link

In this day and age?

Fuck you if it's old, did several searches.
 
"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.
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"In fact, a lot of my friends are black."
 
**Looks at article*** not in Harlan, Hazard or Florence. **Breaths sigh of relief**

Remember when I said there weren't that many overtly racist people in Kentucky? Yea me too. But I did make the exception of rural areas. Seems I was right.

Didn't see it in the article....but can minority couples that aren't inter-racial join? And by inter-racial do they mean just black-white, or any combo?


Wubby said:
Would that include white/Asian combos or just white/black? Well I guess there wouldn't be many Asians in Kentucky anyway.
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I think I've seen around 7 in my entire time that I grew up in KY.
 
I know they have to SAY that it's not Racist... but what other possible explanation could there be for not allowing this? There is no way to spin this for it not to be racist and GAF I challenge you to prove me wrong!
 
Would that include white/Asian combos or just white/black? Well I guess there wouldn't be many Asians in Kentucky anyway.
 
What possible non-racist reasons are there for opposing inter-racial couples?

Also, there's a fried chicken joke here somewhere but I ain't cracking it.
 
Krev said:
.

There's such a social stigma against racism that no one will ever own up to it, even if they are by any definition.
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So would that mean in some weird sick perverse way, you have to give a little credit to the ones who actually DO own up to it?


J Tourettes said:
I'm not sure it can be construed as anything but racist although there was someone saying in the tram thread the other day that separatists aren't racist.
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By separatists do you mean the Confederacy?
 
SmokyDave said:
What possible non-racist reasons are there for opposing inter-racial couples?

Also, there's a fried chicken joke here somewhere but I ain't cracking it.
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I'm not sure it can be construed as anything but racist although there was someone saying in the tram thread the other day that separatists aren't racist.
 
Next up: Church demands all women to quit their jobs and know their place in the kitchen.

I mean, we're going backwards now so it's the next logical step.
 
SmokyDave said:
What possible non-racist reasons are there for opposing inter-racial couples?

Also, there's a fried chicken joke here somewhere but I ain't cracking it.
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They have a perfectly fine reason. This way it'll be simpler to cater for the weddings.

And there's your joke!
 
a Christian is a Christian no matter what color that Christian is.

Baptists are not true Christians anyway, they are just bible literalists and rapture end-of-world-ists
 
I think I got this figured out.

A lot of right wingers think all public broadcasting is librul. It's liberal because it features arts programs, and the current arts is full of sinful folks. Also, PBS and the like are always paying tribute to has-been hippies. That's a lot of sex, drugs and rock n roll. Now think about the PBS lineup, isn't like half of it science programs(uh oh) and the other half british shows?

Now here's the turn: What is British television often called? The BBC. But what is BBC on the internet?

It all makes sense now.
 
I was going to post this yesterday after reading the paper (How does a UK paper pick this up?).

Here's Lexington herald Leader's article on it that I was reading:
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/30/...rch-votes.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop
A small Pike County church has voted not to accept interracial couples as members or let them take part in some worship activities.

The decision has caused sharp reaction and disapproval in the Eastern Kentucky county.

"It's not the spirit of the community in any way, shape or form," Randy Johnson, president of the Pike County Ministerial Association, said of the vote.

The issue came up at the Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church, said Dean Harville, a longtime member who serves as church secretary and clerk.

Attendance is usually around 40 people for a Sunday service at the church in the Johns Creek area, Harville said.

Harville said his daughter Stella Harville, who is pursuing a master's degree in optical engineering at a school in Indiana, brought her fiancé, Ticha Chikuni, to church in June and played the piano as he sang.

The couple performed I Surrender All, said Stella Harville, who is 24.

Chikuni, 29, who works at Georgetown College, is black. He is a native of Zimbabwe.

Stella Harville grew up in the church and was baptized there, but she is not a member, Dean Harville said.

Dean Harville said Melvin Thompson, who had been pastor for many years, told him in August that his daughter and her fiancé couldn't sing at the church again.

Thompson stepped down as pastor in August, citing health issues, but he refused Harville's requests to drop the issue, Harville said.

The new pastor, Stacy Stepp, said the couple could sing at the church if they wanted, Harville said.

In early November, Thompson proposed the church go on record saying that while all people were welcome to attend public worship services there, the church did not condone interracial marriage, according to a copy of the recommendation supplied by the Harvilles.

The proposal also said "parties of such marriages will not be received as members, nor will they be used in worship services" or other church functions, with the exception of funerals.

The recommendation "is not intended to judge the salvation of anyone, but is intended to promote greater unity among the church body and the community we serve," the copy supplied to the Herald-Leader read.

Members at a business meeting decided to put the matter before the whole church. Last Sunday, nine people voted for the proposal and six voted against it, Harville said.

There were more people in attendance, but some didn't want to take a stand, he said.

Harville said the resolution was motivated by racism and has given the church, the community, the county and even God a black eye.

"It sure ain't Christian. It ain't nothing but the old devil working," Harville said.

Thompson, who owns a hardware store, told the Herald-Leader on Tuesday that the proposal has been taken out of context, but declined further comment.

Stella Harville said it has been hurtful that some members of her church family made such a decision.

"They're the people who are supposed to comfort me in times like these," she said.

East Kentucky Broadcasting, which owns several radio stations, first reported the story about the vote on Monday.

Hundreds of people have since posted comments disagreeing with the decision, said reporter Shannon Deskins.

Johnson, with the local ministerial association, said the reactions have included heartbreak and disbelief.

"Most of us thought that we'd moved well beyond that," he said.

Harville said he plans to ask the conference of churches to which Gulnare Freewill Baptist belongs to overturn the vote.

Even if that happens, however, "I don't think I'll be able to go back there," his daughter said.
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Pikeville area is actually nice. I've been there a couple of times no particular issues arose and there are definitely interracial couples there.

Here's an update:
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/12/01/1978727/pike-church-should-reconsider.html#wgt=rcntnews
An official with the National Association of Free Will Baptists said it would be good for a Pike County church to reconsider its vote against accepting interracial couples as members.

The Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church, where members approved the resolution by a vote of 9 to 6 Sunday, is self-governing, so the church hierarchy can't overturn the decision or make members of the church do so.

However, Keith Burden, executive secretary of the national association, said Wednesday he hoped the local conference of churches can encourage the Gulnare congregation to reconsider its vote.

"We are not a bunch of bigots or a bunch of racists," Burden said. Burden said he was working Wednesday to get more information on the controversy in Pike County.

The issue flared this week after members of the Pike County church, which is in the Johns Creek area, approved a statement saying the church did not condone interracial marriage.

The statement said all people are welcome to attend the church, but that the congregation would not receive interracial couples as members, "nor will they be used in worship services" and other church functions, according to a copy supplied to the Herald-Leader by a church member.

Dean Harville, the church secretary, said a former pastor, Melvin Thompson, pushed the resolution after Harville's daughter, Stella, brought her fiancé to church and the two performed a song during a worship service.

Stella Harville's fiancé is black.

"That's all you can call it, is pure racism," Stella Harville said of the position the church was asked to approve.

Thompson declined to comment on the resolution when contacted Tuesday except to say it had been taken out of context, and he did not return a call seeking comment on Wednesday.

John J. Johnson, executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, said in a statement Wednesday that he was saddened to read about the church's vote but encouraged by the widespread negative reaction to it.

"I am proud of the other churches in the Eastern Kentucky community and its many citizens who are being vocal about their support of tolerance, respect and mutual understanding of all people," Johnson said. "The majority of Kentuckians are determined to welcome and embrace all people."

Harville said the church is part of a local association of a dozen or so Free Will Baptist churches called the Sandy Valley Conference, which is part of the national association.

The local conference is scheduled to meet this Saturday.

Harville said there will be a request that the conference ask Gulnare Free Will Baptist to rescind the vote on the resolution against interracial couples.

"That'd be nothing but right," he said.

If the church won't rescind the vote, the local conference and state and national associations have no authority to overturn the decision because the local congregation is autonomous, Burden said.

However, the national association could recommend withdrawing fellowship from the church if that was justified, Burden said.

Burden said the national association has no policy on interracial couples because it has not been an issue.

There are interracial couples who attend churches in the association, which has about 2,400 member congregations across the nation, he said.
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I love that they are called Free Will Baptists.
 
JGS said:
I was going to post this yesterday after reading the paper (How does a UK paper pick this up?).

Here's Lexington herald Leader's article on it that I was reading:
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/30/...rch-votes.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop

Pikeville area is actually nice. I've been there a couple of times no particular issues arose and there are definitely interracial couples there.
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Apparently the vote was 9-6, although 40 people attended the service. Most either left or abstained from voting.

:/
 
One silver lining is that a lot of people in that church and area might start seriously reconsidering their religion after this debacle.

GaimeGuy said:
Apparently the vote was 9-6, although 40 people attended the service. Most either left or abstained from voting.

:/
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Abstaining is exactly the same as voting for it, in this case.
 
JGS said:
I was going to post this yesterday after reading the paper (How does a UK paper pick this up?).

Here's Lexington herald Leader's article on it that I was reading:
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/30/...rch-votes.html#storylink=omni_popular#wgt=pop

Pikeville area is actually nice. I've been there a couple of times no particular issues arose and there are definitely interracial couples there.
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Reading that, it sounds like they're talking about an event from 1950. How backward and ignorant and racist can you be?

That's it Kentucky, you're on your own. You'll get no support from me!
 
Right Wingers are hilarious are doing Christianity the wrong way,

true Jesus was a liberal hippie

but American Baptists still harp on King James of England's Bible as historical events,
ain't that colonial much?
 
Serious question: Is this even newsworthy? Is there anyone who doesn't know there are ignorant racists in Kentucky, or anywhere else? Do the goings on in a church with 40 people in it matter at all?
 
Invisible_Insane said:
Serious question: Is this even newsworthy? Is there anyone who doesn't know there are ignorant racists in Kentucky, or anywhere else? Do the goings on in a church with 40 people in it matter at all?
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It's newsworthy because this shouldn't be happening anywhere in America in 2011
 
Invisible_Insane said:
Serious question: Is this even newsworthy? Is there anyone who doesn't know there are ignorant racists in Kentucky, or anywhere else? Do the goings on in a church with 40 people in it matter at all?
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There's not much going on in Pike County, so the local paper reports on it. That gets picked up by the paper in Lexington. That gets picked up by a regional/national paper...and then here we are.

Is it newsworthy? Not really. But when there's not much else to report, what are ya gonna do?
 
I hesitate to threadcrap, but honestly who the fuck cares? Why is this news?

There are crazy fucking people in the world! Breaking news! There is no social commentary to make, no grand societal psyche breakdown. There is absolutely nothing worth discussing here.

Whats the discussion? Are they racist? Of course they are!
 
Plus everyone who may be associated with this little church has to put the fire out.

KY & Pike County has to condemn it because of stereotypes

Free Will Baptists have to deny it because this one little church can define their entire organiztion.

Technically, the dad probably started it and it is understandably one of the more important issues going for him. Everybody wants a voice.
Souldriver said:
I'd like to know what the reason for this ban is, since it is clearly not racist like the pastors says.
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& thank God it's not a matter of salvation.. except that they can't attend the place that helps with salvation :/
 
It's not that newsworthy. People are just addicted to feeling outraged. I don't think people can be that surprised that there is some regressive thinking in that region of the country.
 
sk3 said:
I hesitate to threadcrap, but honestly who the fuck cares? Why is this news?

There are crazy fucking people in the world! Breaking news! There is no social commentary to make, no grand societal psyche breakdown. There is absolutely nothing worth discussing here.

Whats the discussion? Are they racist? Of course they are!
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It's news because it is ridiculous that people believe this. It needs to be publicised and mocked at every opportunity.
 
etiolate said:
It's not that newsworthy. People are just addicted to feeling outraged. I don't think people can be that surprised that there is some regressive thinking in that region of the country.
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You gotta be kidding?

I'm gobsmacked when stuff like this (or segregated proms) comes up. It really does seem like some parts of the US are years behind the rest of the western world in certain aspects. It's definitely newsworthy, keep shining a light on this stuff and it might just change.
 
etiolate said:
It's not that newsworthy. People are just addicted to feeling outraged. I don't think people can be that surprised that there is some regressive thinking in that region of the country.
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Not to mention NYC, Boston, LA, & every other area with more than 2 houses.

They aren't at Rainbow Coalition levels yet, but Pike overall is tolerant now even if they weren't in the past (Like Lexington, now a pretty liberal city in comparison)
 
lawblob said:
White people. He probably never saw anyone as pale as your average Kentuckyan.
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We're not exactly pasty dude. Kentucky isn't Ireland.


SmokyDave said:
You gotta be kidding?

I'm gobsmacked when stuff like this (or segregated proms) comes up. It really does seem like some parts of the US are years behind the rest of the western world in certain aspects. It's definitely newsworthy, keep shining a light on this stuff and it might just change.
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Wasn't that the one that Morgan Friedman paid for? It was in Mississippi...you're REALLY surprised they have segregated proms in Mississippi?
 
I find it impressive that they would go as far as to ban a couple, instead of a marriage. Is it that maybe this resolution was loosely worded so that they could racially discriminate against their gay members as well?
 
zmoney said:
Wasn't that the one that Morgan Friedman paid for? It was in Mississippi...you're REALLY surprised they have segregated proms in Mississippi?
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Yup. I don't want to turn this into a regional pissing contest but I'm fucking gobsmacked that shit like that can fly anywhere in the (civilised / western / 1st) world. I thought there were laws against that sort of thing.
 
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