The Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church in Pikeville, Kentucky opens it doors to receive anyone willing to hear the word of the Lord — that is, unless they’re an interracial couple!
In what it called a move to “promote greater unity” among its members and the Pike County community it serves, the Gulnare church voted to ban interracial couples from membership and from actively participating in worship activities. HUH?? Isn’t this 2011???
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| Stella Harville and Ticha Chikuni |
The decision against interracial relationships was made earlier this month, when 24-year-old Stella Harville (daughter of the church’s secretary and clerk) brought her 29-year-old fiance, Ticha Chikuni to worship with her. Incidentally, Chikuni is a black man and a native of Zimbabwe.
Stella brought Chikuni with her to the church in June to perform a song for the congregation. Afterwards, then pastor Melvin Thompson told Harville’s father that Stella and her fiance could not sing at the church again. According to Thompson, interracial displays provided the wrong message to the church youth. So in the interest of “unity,” Thompson coerced the church into going on record that while all people were welcome to attend public worship services there, the church would not condone or accept any interracial couples or marriages. Thompson’s proposal was accepted by a 9-6 vote last week, which officially mandated that married interracial couples be prohibited from becoming members or used in worship activities, except for funerals.
Since this story went viral, the church has received a ton of criticism for their backward and overtly discriminate ways. Current pastor Stacy Stepp has since announced that the vote by 9 people last week was declared null and void after it was determined that new bylaws can’t run contrary to local, state or national laws. He acknowledged the proposal was discriminatory, and said the church has since voted on a new resolution that welcomes “believers into our fellowship regardless of race, creed or color.”
WOW!
After witnessing the ignorant and down-right disgusting behaviors of Haters against Pres. Obama over the past 3 yrs (mostly due to the *Color* of his skin) sadly, NOTHING suprises me about people of that ilk anymore…smh.However, the new Pastor sounds like he's truly a man of Faith and good-will towards ALL his fellow-man. He is t be applauded!