Via HuffPo: Interracial Couple Banned From Kentucky Church
the Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church actually made the decision earlier this month, following a visit from 24-year-old Stella Harville, daughter of the church’s secretary and clerk, and her 29-year-old fiance, Ticha Chikuni, a native of Zimbabwe.
[…]
Following the visit, pastor Melvin Thompson told Harville that his daughter and her fiance could not sing at the church again. Thompson later proposed that 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.
His proposal, which was accepted by a 9-6 vote last week, also suggested that married interracial couples be prohibited from becoming members and used in worship activities, except for funerals.
Now, this is clearly a small church (according to a Kentucky.com story, weekly attendance is about 40) and is not to be taken as a broad representation of the state or of the broader faith community. Still, I think it is worth noting that there are still those who think and behave this way. Another recent reminder was the Louisiana justice of the peace who, back in 2009, refused to issues a marriage license to an interracial couple.
Such behavior deserves public scrutiny and the commensurate shame that ought to result.
