Wednesday, December 7, 2011

COMMENTARY: Discriminating against Interracial Couples in Kentucky Church Should Not Have Occurred

Outrage occurred throughout the United States on November 27, 2011 -- and for several days thereafter -- as a result of members of a church in Eastern Kentucky voting to ban interracial couples from receiving church membership.

Members of the Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church -- located in the town of Pikeville -- voted nine to six in favor of the ban.

Fortunately, on December 4, members of the Gulnare Church declared the ban to be null and void, because new church bylaws cannot run contrary to local, state, or national laws. Moreover, church members voted unanimously for a new resolution that welcomes believers regardless of their race, creed, or color.

Just what were the Gulnare Church members thinking when they voted on November 27 to ban church membership of interracial couples? Did they think that they did not need to abide by national, state, and local laws that clearly forbid this kind of discrimination?

Did they think that interracial couples are "second-class citizens" who are not entitled to the same rights as couples who are of the same race?

Whatever the reason(s) for their blatant prejudice, church members never should have passed -- or even discussed -- such a discriminatory resolution.

Indeed, these church members must keep in mind that Jesus loves all Christian worshipers, regardless of their race, color, gender, socioeconomic status, or ethnic background. Human beings must treat each other with a similar love and respect.

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