Pastor bans interracial couples from his church - church divided

The past decides to kick just a bit. Fortunately, he does not have all of the church behind him.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A tiny Appalachian church in Pike County has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its flock, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.

Members at the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church voted Sunday on the resolution, which says the church "does not condone interracial marriage."

Member Melvin Thompson crafted the resolution but said Wednesday that he is not racist. The church secretary, Dean Harville, disagrees. The resolution followed a visit to the church by Harville's daughter, who is white, and her African boyfriend.

"I am not racist. I will tell you that. I am not prejudiced against any race of people, have never in my lifetime spoke evil" about a race," said Thompson, the church's former pastor who stepped down earlier this year. "That's what this is being portrayed as, but it is not."

He called the matter an "internal affair" of the church.

Harville said an appearance at the church by Stella Harville and her boyfriend, Ticha Chikuni, prompted the vote. Harville said the couple visited the church in June and Chikuni sang a song for the congregation.

Harville, the church's secretary, said he was counting the church offering after a service in early August when he was approached by Thompson, who told him Harville's daughter and her boyfriend were no longer allowed to sing at the church.

"If he's not racist, what is this?" Harville said of Thompson.

Harville and Thompson each said the church's governing conference will meet soon to attempt to resolve the issue. Thompson said he believed the resolution would be overturned.

The vote by members on Sunday was 9-6, Harville said. It was taken after the service, which about 35 to 40 people attended. Harville said many people left or declined to vote.

The resolution says anyone is welcome to attend services, but interracial couples could not become members or be "used in worship services or other church functions."

Stella Harville met Chikuni at Georgetown College where he is a resident director of a dormitory. They are set to be married next year, Dean Harville said.[1]