Black Couple: White Church Refused to Marry Us

Charles, Te'Andrea Wilson moved their wedding elsewhere
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 29, 2012 5:30 PM CDT
Black Couple: White Church Refused to Marry Us
Charles and Te'Andrea Wilson in their home in Crystal Springs, Miss. They say the church where they planned to get married turned them away because they are black.   (AP Photo)

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 hosting the wedding. So he performed the July 21 ceremony at another church. A church member told the Clarion-Ledger that "this is a small, small group of people who made a terrible decision. 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." (More racism stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X