In Church News: Pastor Asks for "Whites Only" to Greet Parishioner! You've Got 2 Be Kidding!

Looking at the theGrio a couple days ago and I came across this article. Apparently there is a church called Freedom House Church in NC that had one simple request when it came to the greeters at the church front doors...white people only. Let me explain:

Paster Makeda Pennycooke sent out an email to her congregation. The email was simplistic it said that first impressions matter and that the church needed to put the best of the best on the front doors. The best way to do that apparently was to have only Caucasians at the front door greeting the members of the congregation as they come in the church for morning service.

The young woman who spoke out about this controversial email is named Carmen Thomas, she contacted the local TV station WBTV to ensure that a story was done about this Pastor's disrespectful and rude request.

She explains in her interview that she was "floored by the request". She goes on by saying:

“Like it was a jaw dropper. You can put a white face all over the front door. But when you come through those doors, you’re going to see African-Americans, you’re gonna see Asians. You’re going to see people of color.”

 Ms. Thomas goes on to say:

“Too black. It wasn’t a conclusion that I drew. It was something I read. Perhaps you believe that with a certain congregation that eventually your finances are going to run out because maybe we aren’t the moneymakers,”

Freedom House Church has since issued an apology and statement to WBTV saying:

”Freedom House believes in a diverse relationship within its membership, reflecting the larger community in which the church resides, doing life together as a church representative of everyone — culturally, ethnically, economically, and generationally.”

By the way the Pastor Makeda Pennycooke is African American and so is Ms. Carmen Thomas.

 Let Me Tell You What I Think....

First off this is just wrong on every level. You are being more than disrespectful, you are being rude and definitely discriminating against more than just African Americans, your entire ethnically diverse congregation should be offended. This stunt you have pulled is probably going to cost you your members and or your job. If it was me and I was head of the deacon board an emergency meeting would have been called and 1 of 2 things would have happened:

1. Either Pastor Pennycooke would have been suspended indefinitely until further notice.
2. Pastor Pennycooke would have been fired.

Alienating the congregation and making them feel as though they are not good enough is not a way to minister to the masses about god's love and acceptance. That is the exact opposite of his way. I hope and pray that there is something done about this by the congregation of the church its their job to ensure that their Pastor has their best interests at heart and not his or her own agenda.

And one more thing. The apology issued to the television station is stupid and bogus. This apology needed to given to the congregation. The people who were truly offended were the people who listen to your messages every Sunday. You need to be apologizing to them and ensuring that something like this will never happen again. 

This is really sad. But it just goes to show that not even Pastors are closer to god than you are. Here is the deal: A Pastor is still human and still capable of making mistakes. People expect Pastor's to never make a major mistake like this one. Its crazy, but some mistakes are unacceptable. This one being one of them. You have to think, use your head and be smart about the things you say or do. You don't want to offend anyone like this. I'm sure if the tables were turned she would've been just as offended. 

PSA: By the way this reminds me #PreachersLA is coming on Oxygen in October and it is going to spark a major controversy. And from of the things I've heard it most definitely will make things very interesting in the world of religion.

Source: theGrio