The Southern Baptist Convention is working to repair its image and address concerns of racism after a member Mississippi Baptist church refused to marry a black couple.
Stan Weatherford, pastor of First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, informed Charles and Te’Andrea Wilson that some members opposed holding their wedding at the church.
The couple, who are regular attendees, say they got the bad news just days before their big day.
“The congregation had said because we were black that there would be no black wedding at the church,” Charles Wilson said.
The Southern Baptist Convention is historically known for supporting slavery. But with the recent election of Fred Luter as the SBC’s first black president, many members saw it as proof the convention had progressed far from its discriminatory past.
Luter called the ordeal with the Wilsons “uncomfortable” and said it’s key that leaders learn from it.
“We just have to be aware that the enemy will use anything he can to come against our churches and our ministries with something like this,” Luter said. “We’ve always got to be aware that the enemy is out to kill, steal and destroy.”
“It’s unfortunate that it happened, but we’ve got to learn from it, and be able to go on and do what God has called us to do,” he added.
Spokesman Roger Oldham said, “The convention’s position on race relations is clear: ‘In the Spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism.'”
He went on to call racism a sin, and said it’s also unfortunate that a small group in the church was able to “determine church policy without giving the church an opportunity to discuss the matter and take formal action as a congregation.”
Wilson said it was tough to explain the situation to his daughter.
“My 9-year-old was going to the church with us and how would you sit around here and say to your 9-year-old daughter, ‘We cannot get married because, guess what, sweetie, we’re black!'” he said.
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