Members speak out on Crystal Springs church controversy

A week after a black couple was asked to move their wedding out of a Crystal Springs church, members are speaking out while their pastor stays quiet

The week has been anything but Tranquil for the congregation at First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs.

Some members are fighting mad about the media attention surrounding the church leadership's decision to not let a black couple get married there. One woman swung a purse at 16 WAPT reporter Meg Pace before entering the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs.

"There's a lot of people in the church that are suffering inner turmoil over this issue," said church member Ralph Miley.

Other church members said it was not the entire congregation's decision. Ray Henderson, an African-American churchgoer, said he isn't letting the allegations keep him from attending First Baptist Crystal Springs.

"I love these people, and they love me," said Henderson.

Some members said the pastor was put in a tough spot.

"He was trying to gain time really, to deal with racism among the few members of our church who created this situation," said Robert Mack, a member of First Baptist Crystal Springs and a retired Southern Baptist pastor.

Te'Andrea and Charles Wilson, who'd been attending First Baptist Crystal Springs, were supposed to get married last Saturday. However, just a few days before the ceremony, they said Pastor Stan Weatherford told them some members were upset because they didn't want a black couple married there.

"I was told because members of the congregation said no black has ever been married in that church and they will not be married in that church. And, I talk a lot, but I didn't talk then, my mouth was just like (opens mouth)," said Charles Wilson.

The Wilsons said they were heartbroken. The church returned their $500 deposit and moved the wedding to another church down the street.

On Sunday morning, Weatherford preached from the book of Matthew. The story was about Jesus and his disciples who were caught in a storm, and Weatherford compared it to the storm he said his church is in, in the midst of allegations of racism. At the end of the service, dozens of members crowded the church's altar in tears and prayer.

Te'Andrea Wilson said she will never return to First Baptist Crystal Springs. That makes Barbara Mack sad.

"It's a shame, because we would love to see her back in our fellowship. We would love for her to become a member of our church," said member Barbara Mack.

Several members said they'd like to see the members who didn't want the Wilson's married there to apologize to the couple and step down from any leadership positions they may have in the church.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48390450/ns/local_news-jackson_ms/

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