Small Ky. Church Votes Against Interracial Couples

[웃 910]

Small Ky. Church Votes Against Interracial CouplesLOUISVILLE, Ky. — A tiny all-white Appalachian church in rural Kentucky has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its flock, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.Members at the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church voted 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."Church secretary Dean Harville disagrees: He says the resolution came after his daughter visited the church this summer with her boyfriend from Africa.Stella Harville and Ticha Chikuni – now her fiance – visited the church in June and Chikuni sang a song for the congregation. The two had visited the church before.Dean Harville, the church's secretary, said he was counting the church offering after a service in early August when he was approached by Thompson, who told him Harville's daughter and her boyfriend were no longer allowed to sing at the church."If he's not racist, what is this?" Harville said of Thompson.The vote by members last Sunday was 9-6, Harville said. It was taken after the service, which about 35 to 40 people attended. Harville said many people left or declined to vote.The resolution says anyone is welcome to attend services, but interracial couples could not become members or be "used in worship services or other church functions."Stella Harville, a 24-year-old graduate student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, called the vote "hurtful.""I think part of me is still in shock and trying to process what's been going on the past few days," she said. "I really hope they overturn this."The church's pastor, Stacy Stepp, said Wednesday that he was against the resolution. Stepp said the denomination's regional conference will begin working on resolving the issue this weekend.The National Association of Free Will Baptists in Antioch, Tenn., has no official position on interracial marriage for its 2,400 churches worldwide, executive secretary Keith Burden said. The denomination believes in the Bible is inerrant and local churches have autonomy over decision-making."It's been a non-issue with us," Burden said, adding that many interracial couples attend Free Will Baptist churches. He said the Pike County church acted on its own. Burden said the association can move to strip the local church of its affiliation with the national denomination if it's not resolved."Hopefully it is corrected quickly," Burden said.The church's vote on interracial marriage was first reported this week by East Kentucky Broadcasting, a network of local radio stations in the region.Stella Harville met Chikuni at Georgetown College, where he is a student advisor. Dean Harville said Chikuni's parents live in southern Africa, and he has not seen them in over a decade.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2011/11/30/small-ky-church-votes-aga_n_1121996.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A tiny all-white Appalachian church in rural Kentucky has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its flock, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.

Members at the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church voted 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."

Church secretary Dean Harville disagrees: He says the resolution came after his daughter visited the church this summer with her boyfriend from Africa.

Stella Harville and Ticha Chikuni – now her fiance – visited the church in June and Chikuni sang a song for the congregation. The two had visited the church before. Dean Harville, the church's secretary, said he was counting the church offering after a service in early August when he was approached by Thompson, who told him Harville's daughter and her boyfriend were no longer allowed to sing at the church.

"If he's not racist, what is this?" Harville said of Thompson.

The vote by members last Sunday was 9-6, Harville said. It was taken after the service, which about 35 to 40 people attended. Harville said many people left or declined to vote.

The resolution says anyone is welcome to attend services, but interracial couples could not become members or be "used in worship services or other church functions."

Stella Harville, a 24-year-old graduate student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, called the vote "hurtful."

"I think part of me is still in shock and trying to process what's been going on the past few days," she said. "I really hope they overturn this."

The church's pastor, Stacy Stepp, said Wednesday that he was against the resolution. Stepp said the denomination's regional conference will begin working on resolving the issue this weekend.

The National Association of Free Will Baptists in Antioch, Tenn., has no official position on interracial marriage for its 2,400 churches worldwide, executive secretary Keith Burden said. The denomination believes in the Bible is inerrant and local churches have autonomy over decision-making.

"It's been a non-issue with us," Burden said, adding that many interracial couples attend Free Will Baptist churches. He said the Pike County church acted on its own. Burden said the association can move to strip the local church of its affiliation with the national denomination if it's not resolved. "Hopefully it is corrected quickly," Burden said.

The church's vote on interracial marriage was first reported this week by East Kentucky Broadcasting, a network of local radio stations in the region. Stella Harville met Chikuni at Georgetown College, where he is a student advisor. Dean Harville said Chikuni's parents live in southern Africa, and he has not seen them in over a decade. ___ Follow Dylan Lovan on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dylanlovan

[웃 910]

Nice try but I win! (Although after posting I opened a new tab and when I came back a few minutes later I noticed the text came out terrible..whoops)

Edited December 1, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In some parts of KY education is still illegal. You can be arrested for "thinking and driving". Open containers of books are illegal in vehicles.

[Ban Hammer 13,508]

duplicate topics merged

[slim 1,530]

So.... should a church be allowed to discriminate or should they be forced, like everything else in the US, to be open to everyone?

[The_Dude 1,142]

So.... should a church be allowed to discriminate or should they be forced, like everything else in the US, to be open to everyone?

Slim, you can remain as ignorant as you want to. Nobody is forcing anyone to like anyone. But when your hatred and bigotry strays beyond the scope of laws, then it becomes a problem. See how that works? You break a law, you face the consequences. I hope this church loses it's tax exempt status.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So.... should a church be allowed to discriminate or should they be forced, like everything else in the US, to be open to everyone?

Be forced like everything else? So the Boy Scouts of America now accepts gay members?

[slim 1,530]

Slim, you can remain as ignorant as you want to. Nobody is forcing anyone to like anyone. But when your hatred and bigotry strays beyond the scope of laws, then it becomes a problem. See how that works? You break a law, you face the consequences. I hope this church loses it's tax exempt status.

Where does the first amendment start/stop in terms of a religious institutions right to operate however they'd like?

Be forced like everything else? So the Boy Scouts of America now accepts gay members?

Is the Boy Scouts a religious organization protected by the 1st Amendment?

[Nina~ 431]

Where does the first amendment start/stop in terms of a religious institutions right to operate however they'd like?

It stops when they start discriminating based on inherent qualities, such as skin color.

Edited December 1, 2011 by Nina~

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Where does the first amendment start/stop in terms of a religious institutions right to operate however they'd like?

Is the Boy Scouts a religious organization protected by the 1st Amendment?

You're deflecting. You made the blanket statement that 'everything or everyone else is forced to accept everyone.' I gave you an example of an organization that bans gays, which the Supreme Court has ruled that they are allowed to. Can you give concrete examples of various organizations that were 'forced' to accept anyone or were you really just speaking out of your #######?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Where does the first amendment start/stop in terms of a religious institutions right to operate however they'd like?

This isn't about constitutional law juggalo, it's about IRS standards. You are right, it is unconstitutional to limit the speech of someone, unless it strays into preaching violence or actionable hatred. If they stray too far on this subject, they could be held up to IRS tax law, which could take a look at their tax exempt status.

[slim 1,530]

It stops when they start discriminating based on inherent qualities, such as skin color.

Why do religious institutions have to accept anyone? Especially folks they don't like?

You're deflecting. You made the blanket statement that 'everything or everyone else is forced to accept everyone.' I gave you an example of an organization that bans gays, which the Supreme Court has ruled that they are allowed to. Can you give concrete examples of various organizations that were 'forced' to accept anyone or were you really just speaking out of your #######?

How about country clubs and golf courses? Those are private organizations that've been forced by the government to integrate against their will.

This isn't about constitutional law juggalo, it's about IRS standards. You are right, it is unconstitutional to limit the speech of someone, unless it strays into preaching violence or actionable hatred. If they stray too far on this subject, they could be held up to IRS tax law, which could take a look at their tax exempt status.

And this is where we get down to the real meat and potatoes. It's about money. It's always about money.

Religious institutions - who aren't beholden to taxes and CAN'T be legislated by congress - can only be restricted by their tax-exempt status or the power of government to hang that over their head. "If you don't let interracial couples in, you'll have to start paying taxes."

[The_Dude 1,142]

And this is where we get down to the real meat and potatoes. It's about money. It's always about money.

Religious institutions - who aren't beholden to taxes and CAN'T be legislated by congress - can only be restricted by their tax-exempt status or the power of government to hang that over their head. "If you don't let interracial couples in, you'll have to start paying taxes."

You're getting there Slim, but you seem to have a misguided perspective here. It's a benefit that religious organizations receive to remain non-political, and not to preach hatred. I bet you got your allowance when you were a kid for doing chores around the house. Would you still expect to be paid if you didn't hold up your end of that agreement?

[^_^ 5,021]

Well there is a bit of a difference here. A tax exemption simply means you keep more of your own money. An allowance is a wage, money you earn.