African American couple reportedly denied wedding at Mississippi church

An African American couple who attends a predominantly white Baptist church in Mississippi, was reportedly denied to have their wedding take place after members of the congregation demanded that their wedding be held elsewhere allegedly because of their race.

“The church congregation had decided no Blacks could be married at that church. And that if he went on to marry her, then they would vote him out the church,” Charles Wilson told local news station WLBT.

Wilson and his wife, commenting on how the Rev. Stan Weatherford of First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs decided to perform their wedding ceremony at a different church, saying racism was to blame.

“I feel like it was blatant racial discrimination,” Wilson told the Clarion-Ledger.

“He had people in the sanctuary that were pitching a fit about us being a black couple,” said Te’Andrea Wilson. “I didn’t like it at all, because I wasn’t brought up to be racist. I was brought up to love and care for everybody.”

The Wilsons are not members of the church, but were regularly attendees. Mrs. Wilson having family ties to the congregation. Her father used to attend the church and she has an uncle who was a custodian there.

“Prior to this, I had been telling people how nice they were here,” Charles Wilson said. “It makes you re-evaluate things. We were doing everything right. We wanted to get married.”

Charles and  Te’Andrea Wilson did get married on July 21, but not in the church they had planned.

No Black or African American couple has been married at First Baptist Church of Crystal Cathedral.

Pastor Weatherford has said that members would be holding meetings to see how to go forward to avoid future situations similar to the one involving the Wilsons.