Black couple says racism forced wedding relocation

(AP) JACKSON, Miss. - A Mississippi couple says the church where they planned to get married turned them away because they are black.

Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson say they had set the date and mailed invitations, but the day before their wedding they say they got bad news from the pastor of predominantly white First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs: Some members of the church complained about the black couple having a wedding there.

The Wilsons, who live in nearby Jackson, said they attend the church regularly although they are not members.

Pastor Stan Weatherford told WLBT TV he was surprised when a small number of church members opposed holding the wedding at the church.

"This had never been done before here, so it was setting a new precedent, and there are those who reacted to that because of that," said Weatherford.

Weatherford performed the July 21 ceremony at another church.

"I didn't want to have a controversy within the church, and I didn't want a controversy to affect the wedding of Charles and Te'Andrea. I wanted to make sure their wedding day was a special day," said Weatherford.

WLBT reported that church officials now say they welcome any race. They plan to hold internal meetings on how to move forward.

Church member Casey Kitchens said she and other members of the congregation are outraged by the church's refusal to marry a black couple, a decision she says most of the congregation knew nothing about.

"This is a small, small group of people who made a terrible decision," Kitchens told The Clarion-Ledger. "I'm just ashamed right now that my church would do that. I can't fathom why. How unfair. How unjust. It's just wrong."

"I blame the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs, I blame those members who knew and call themselves Christians and didn't stand up," said Charles Wilson.

Wilson told the newspaper that he understands Weatherford was caught in a difficult position and he still likes the pastor, but he also thinks the pastor should have stood up to the members who didn't want the couple to marry in the church.

"It's not reflective of the spirit of the Lord and Mississippi Baptists," the Mississippi Baptist Convention executive director, the Rev. Jim Futral, said. "It's just a step backward. ... It's a sad thing."

[ladyno]

In 2012 jim crow is still alive and well. With respect to the congregants who suggest they are not racist; if it look like a duck, if it walks like a duck and finally, if it quacks like a duck, its a duck folk.

Remember history is cyclical and if its leassons go unlearned, it is doomed to repeat itself. So, its time time to learn to respect our own, in our speech in our actions and interactions. Respect our neighborhoods and learn to be self-reliance. Lets take care of our children instead of looking to others to protect them. In the last 3 weeks 4 young black children have been killed in NY. Its time.

[mysticpizza]

I guess thats the old time religion of jim crow that lasted from 1888 till the 1960's still in effect in ole miss.

[PreachersSpouse]

Mistakes were made by all parties involved:
1. CHURCH GOVERNING BOARD was negligent in not having a set of "Wedding Guidelines for Members and Non-Members" already in place. This would include building use and janitor (for clean-up afterward)fees; pre-marriage counseling requirements, clergy honorarium (non-members), music guidelines, use of bird seed instead of rice, no flash pictures allowed during ceremony, etc.
2. THE PASTOR (so as not to be put on the spot) should have asked the board early on about any guidelines and shown the guidelines to the couple when first approached about presiding over the wedding.
3. THE COUPLE, if already welcomed by the church into membership and were ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH with their time, talent, and treasure; would probably not have been refused use of the building.
There are still people out there that only want to use the church as a backdrop (pretty grounds or sanctuary), not understanding that the marriage ceremony is considered a solemn worship service and should be treated accordingly. If all that is wanted is the pretty building or grounds the couple should not waste the pastor's time and just go to a Justice of the peace!!

[mikeinme]

All good stuff.. except the attempt to blame the victims here.. how about some evidence that they were just "using" the church? If that's the case, why didn't the pastor say so?

[Mialmasoul]

I am sorry to say I disagree with the pomp and circumstance you are suggesting. WHAT do you mean "welcomed by the church into membership?" And if they are NOT "ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH" is that still a reason to refuse their request?
I don't get it.

[Molly-Pchr]

That is just nuts!

[interestingissue]

Hang on a second.
How does 'not being a member' translate to 'they won't marry us because we're black'? If you're not a contributing member of the church, why would you expect that sort of accommodation?
This is one of the most trumped-up race-baiting articles I've seen on CBS (or anywhere else).

[Mialmasoul]

Do you really know from this article that they trumped up something? So, they were not members. Does this mean that in all white churches "God's house is NOT open to all" unless they are paid subscribers? REALLY? And what is race baiting?

[mysticpizza]

The reason they should expect that sort of accomodation because the church is suppose to be about love and compassion to all.

[jmn122736]

occupy_cbs July 29, 2012 9:26 AM EDT
Many Jews, in Israel and in the U.S., are less comfortable in the embrace of the American Evangelicals. They cite a verse from Revelations claiming that Jesus will return only after two-thirds of the Jews are killed and the rest are converted to Christianity. "They are not supporting us out of love," says one opponent, Rabbi Shalom Dov Lifshitz from the anti-missionary group Yad La'achim, "but because they believe that if we convert out of Judaism to Christianity, it will bring on the Apocalypse." And that, he says, is "a danger to the people of Israel".

Does mitt the twit and the other moron cultists also believe in the rapture?
-----------------------

Actually they believe in the book of Mormon. That's the book created by Joseph Smith in 1836, the same CONVICTED CON-ARTIST who believed in polygamy, and finding buried treasure with magic wands.

[matt6052]

The incident described could only have happened in a church where all races are welcome in attendance. You would make the good the enemy of the perfect, but even the perfect aren't so perfect.

Until Harlem and the Upper East Side are demographically identical, why should anyone above the Mason Dixon Line concern themselves with anything else?

[docsleeve]

It is sad to say that in 2012 racism still exist in this country. We still have a long way to go. Enough said

[Alan_1969]

If anyone isn't welcomed to any church, then that church isn't fit to have anyone. However, if there is a person that constantly causes disruption in a church, they should be told to straighten up or don't come back. Everything is suppose to be done in orderly fashion. It only takes a few people to destroy a church, just like the few that complained against the black couple. The pastor is most likely only a hired servant and has no real authority and on his own he should find another place to preach that is more in line with the teachings of the bible. Everyone in that church that didn't like what happened to the black couple should also find another church and then that church can try to remain open with those few that complained. Probably within a short period of time, they will close their doors.

[ugacrew]

"If anyone isn't welcomed to any church, then that church isn't fit to have anyone."..............You said it all and in just one sentence!

I will add that a pastor who is afraid to take a stand for the gospel he preaches is unfit to pastor.

[gold4]

That reminds me of the story told in the 1960s,in many churches.
this good, black man, always wanted to worship in a majestic, beautiful church, where rich folks alwayS had, but no one spoke to him, ever. he attended the church for several years, still no one wanted to have a thing to do with him.
So, this man, prayed to the Lord, asking how come the people of that church did not want him in the church. The Good Lord answered him that night in his bedroom.
"SON, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT CHURCH, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET INTO IT, FOR YEARS, AND THEY DON'T LET ME IN!!!
There you have it, now days, we still have that kind of people in our country. PRAY FOR THEM, PLEASE.

[Mialmasoul]

I LOVE your story. Point made.