Gary

How can you say "At my church we welcome most any couples, mixed or not,but we discourage the mixing of the races", but yet said, " “I feel all races have certain strengths & certain weaknesses, with the help of the Lord lets try to work together make America a better place," on another blog?

Mr. Williams

I have taken too long to comment on this column. Jennifer, I was deeply moved by your writing on this issue, for the lucidity, human and sensitivity that you offered.

Melissa and I feel this is some of your best work and can't wait to read more. You explore spirituality through the growth of your consciousness and that allows us all to connect with our own paths.

Thanks again, Jennifer.

Dennis

Vet43.

AMEN. For the past two or three weeks, I have witnessed something on this site. Back in 2008, there was another reporter for VICAD who moved to Dallas, had a spat with the locals over the harsh racial comments about Senator Obama. They even called him out. Today another reporter at the VICAS is being called out continuously for a simple article about economics in the Black community. I have yet see anyone of these folks talk about the questionable practices of a certain elected official in nearby Jackson County. I better hash my mouth before someone foolishly suggests I am trying to stir the pot.

Mr. Williams

I saw the article and looked at several different sites regarding this incident. As I read the articles and reviewed some of the on line comments it would seem we have groupd of people that still feed on hate.

It would be a remarkable study in race relations if every American would take a DNA test and see how "white" they really are and maybe what thier family tree looks like.

Gary, How about a black/asian male and a white/aborigine female? And one is Jewish. Can they attend your church if they promise not to mix?

I agree, Mike.

If a church had to have a meeting about allowing inerracial couples,then it tells me all I want to know about that church.

I'm sorry I wasted my time with you, Jennifer.

I won't make that mistake again.

@SugarMagnolia,

Thank you for your comments. Everything in the column is factual, and does not at any point identify Thompson as the current pastor. The column wasn't intended to discuss the church's opinion, the current church's pastor's opinion, or cover a lengthy timeline of what happened from start to finish. The column is my opinion, and I chose to write about Thompson, the church's former pastor, who initiated the vote that drew national attention to the Freewill Baptist Church in KY. The column is also meant to discuss the church in question, not all the Freewill Baptist Churches, or Baptist Churches in general.

If you would like to discuss the topic further, you are welcome to write a blog, or Letter to the Editor. Thank you for reading.

Thank you for the clarification, Ms. Preyss. However, the reader is still left with the impression this is the CURRENT pastor of this church, and no mention is made in your article of the current pastor nor his/her position on the issue at hand. I also would ask that your article, for the sake of completeness and clarity, emphasize the position of the Freewill Baptist Association.

Understand, I do not have a dog in this fight, as I don't subscribe to any religion. I just would like readers to have factual and COMPLETE information at hand, as they should be able to expect this from any newspaper.

From the L.A. Times via Associated Press:

"The church member and former pastor who pushed for the vote, Melvin Thompson, wouldn't tell the Associated Press why he did it."

"Thompson stepped down as pastor earlier this year for health reasons, according to Harville's father, Dean Harville. He said it was Thompson who told him that Chikuni couldn't sing at the church, a small, one-story red brick building with few windows and a white steeple."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwor...

I second Dago29 on his/her comment. The article I read DAYS ago on MSN made clear the fact that Thompson is a member of the church, and that the Pastor does not agree with Thompson's position. The position of Thompson is not the position of the larger FreeWill Baptist association, which was also made clear in the article.

This little writeup need some major corrections. Could the VicAd and its reporters PLEASE do the minimum of research required in order to write a piece like this before doing such a disservice to their readers? Thank you in advance for your quick corrections to this article.

Gary, you would have fared well in the bronze age, but this is 2011 son - think for yourself for once.

yeah, if Jesus was anything, it was intolerant.

doesn't the Klan preach this same message of separating the races?

Gald to know you aren't Catholic Gary.....

Gary.

You are preaching a Double Standard. Maybe just maybe you should open up your that Bible you love to beat over people’s heads and read Numbers 12:1-15. You know…God cursing Moses’ Sister (Miriam) for bashing Moses’s marriage to a black woman (Zipporah). After you read that, I want you to reassess all of your past offensive comments and refrain from posting ever again.

I stand by my statement regardless of what happens on here.

Mr. Williams

I have just one correction on this story. Thompson is not the pastor, he is simply a church member. The actually pastor is Stacy Stapp and he is on record as being opposed to the church's decision. The Free Will Baptist Association will be meeting soon to determine whether to disassociate with this church, unless the church's decision is reversed.

Jennifer

why then would he care if an African man and Asian woman, or white man and black woman, or Middle Eastern man and Hispanic woman came together in marriage under God?

Why? you ask is because He made us (the races) different & He intended to keep them that way. This is not RACISIM. History will prove that it has normally always been the white man that is the rascal.

Often the results of these marriages are children who dont know who they are or were they belong. I am personally good friends with a number of mixed married couples & I know for a fact that it is often a hardship on there marriages.

Life & marriage can be hard enough at times with out bringing in extra burdens with it.

At my church we welcome most any couples, mixed or not,but we discourage the mixing of the races.