# Kentucky church bans interracial couple **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671 "2011-12-01T04:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/21 "2011-12-01T14:00:32Z")
My mother’s from Pike County, and still attends (a different, Presbyterian) church there. Her church had a new young pastor come in a few years ago, and apparently, the congregation took exception to his preaching of tolerance towards groups like homosexuals. So they ran him off and got a new one. And then they wonder why their congregation is shrinking every year. A church that wants to attract new members has to widen itself and its beliefs - do the opposite for long enough, and you’ll end up with a congregation of one. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/22 "2011-12-01T14:01:15Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > According to Wikipedia, the African-American population of Pike County is less than 0.5% – there isn’t much opportunity for miscegenation there. That’s why racism is different here than it is in the Deep South, IMO–there just aren’t very many black people around. In places where there are larger AA populations people have had years to get used to mixed relationships; it’s still very much a novelty for the folks in communities like this one. Pike County is a weird place. A lot of it is small isolated communities like this one, but there is a TON of coal money in Pikeville itself. Someone once told me that Pikeville has more millionaires per square mile than any city in the country, which is probably bullshit but depending on where they draw the city limits it might not be off by much. Pikeville has a university and even a medical school, but it also has every poor rural stereotype you can imagine within a ten-minute drive. > [@Alessan](#): > > My guess is that they meant board members. Nope. This is a tiny church–average Sunday attendance is around 40, so attendance at a business meeting would be much less. The HL story said that more people were at the meeting than those 15, but many “didn’t want to take a stand”. > [@CitizenPained](#): > > It looks like they now have a female pastor but still won’t allow interracial marriages. No, he’s a dude. Stacy is a fairly common name for guys around here. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/23 "2011-12-01T14:35:24Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > So anything any baptist church does from here on out is A O.K.! No. Just that cutting all churches out of nonprofit status for this incident wouldn’t be smart. Now, this would seem obvious - but that was the direction **CitizenPained** was heading. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/24 "2011-12-01T14:52:09Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > My guess is that they meant board members. Very unlikely. Baptist churches (and especially a Freewill Baptist) are democratic in organization – most all major decisions are made by vote of the whole church (more accurately, by the voting members that show up for the meeting). The only other possibility is that it would be the deacons, but it’s unlikely that a rural county would support a church big enough to have 15 deacons. Rural areas have _lots_ of one-room churches with a couple dozen elderly members. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/25 "2011-12-01T14:52:42Z")
Does that church have a website? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/26 "2011-12-01T14:53:45Z")
> [@furt](#): > > The only other possibility is that it would be the deacons, but it’s unlikely that a rural county would support a church big enough to have 15 deacons. Rural areas have lots of one-room churches with a couple dozen elderly members. Wouldn’t it be the elders? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/27 "2011-12-01T15:06:35Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Very unlikely. Baptist churches (and especially a Freewill Baptist) are democratic in organization – most all major decisions are made by vote of the whole church (more accurately, by the voting members that show up for the meeting). > > The only other possibility is that it would be the deacons, but it’s unlikely that a rural county would support a church big enough to have 15 deacons. Rural areas have _lots_ of one-room churches with a couple dozen elderly members. This article says [attendence for a Sunday mass](http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/30/1977453/small-pike-county-church-votes.html) is something like 40 people, so the full congregation is certainly larger then 9 people. There are pics of the church on some of the articles, its certainly a long way from a mega-church, but its not a one room deal either. Its not like the Westboro Baptists or something where the “congregation” is just one guys extended family. Happy looking couple though. They probably deserve a better Church anyways. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/28 "2011-12-01T15:11:10Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Wouldn’t it be the elders? Baptist churches typically do not have “Elders.” They tend to have “Deacons” in an somewhat analogous role to what mainline churches give “Elders.” (They may also have “Trustees” who deal with nonreligious issues e.g. building maintenance … to make it even more confusing, some mainline churches call these guys “Deacons.”) A church with 40 people attending on Sunday is not going to have 15 Deacons or Elders or any kind of leadership. Half of that 40 are likely kids and old ladies. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/29 "2011-12-01T15:15:03Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > There are pics of the church on some of the articles, its certainly a long way from a mega-church, but its not a one room deal either. Ummm, yeah, 40 people is about right for a one-room church. Most of [these](https://www.google.com/search?q=one+room+church&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=fM9&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=eJnXToLaKcqasgLG1OzSDQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBIQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=758) would hold 40 just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Enlightening\_Meditation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecc23a/32.png) [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/30 "2011-12-01T15:17:51Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does that church have a website? I doubt it. Many rural Applachian areas do not have internet access, cable TV, or cellular phone service. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/31 "2011-12-01T15:21:26Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does that church have a website? What’s a “website”? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/32 "2011-12-01T15:35:31Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What’s a “website”? That dark corner under the baptistry that is full of spiders. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/33 "2011-12-01T15:37:22Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > This article says [attendence for a Sunday mass](http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/30/1977453/small-pike-county-church-votes.html) is something like 40 people… Just a nitpick - Baptists don’t celebrate Mass. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/34 "2011-12-01T15:43:53Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > 9 to 6? 9 to frickin’ 6?!? > > This story is based on the fact there are 9 outwardly racist people in Kentucky. I’m not saying this is good, but really, nine people? It’s not exactly a landslide decision by a megachurch, is it? In other news, the church tossed six additional members out of the church. The votes were 9 to 6, 9 to 5, 9 to 4, 9 to 3, 9 to 2, and 9 to 1. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/35 "2011-12-01T15:52:41Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > I’m having trouble with this part - “but is intended to promote greater unity among the church body and the community we serve.” How does exclusion promote unity? By differentiating the community they do serve from the community they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/36 "2011-12-01T16:07:24Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > In other news, the church tossed six additional members out of the church. The votes were 9 to 6, 9 to 5, 9 to 4, 9 to 3, 9 to 2, and 9 to 1. Thanks for the morning laugh! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/37 "2011-12-01T16:14:26Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > According to Wikipedia, the African-American population of Pike County is less than 0.5% – there isn’t much opportunity for miscegenation there. Sure there is. Don’t forget how promiscuous they are. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/38 "2011-12-01T17:27:50Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > When I first read about this on Fark, it sounded slightly significant. Then I read this line: > > 9 to 6? 9 to frickin’ 6?!? > > This story is based on the fact there are 9 outwardly racist people in Kentucky. I’m not saying this is good, but really, nine people? It’s not exactly a landslide decision by a megachurch, is it? But that is 60%. Over 60% of Kentucky Citizens who belong to one particular backwater church support discrimination against interracial marriage!!! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/39 "2011-12-01T17:40:41Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > You have to admire their fair mindedness for making and exception for funerals. They don’t just condone funerals for interracial couples, they encourage them! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671/40 "2011-12-01T17:47:35Z")
How will they decide what race someone is? If a couple comes in and says “we’re both Caucasian,” are they going to order blood tests? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kentucky-church-bans-interracial-couple/604671.md?page=3)