West Tenn. Baptist pastors talk about church integration
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DOWNTOWN JACKSON, Tenn. — In the wake of recent killings of black men by white police officers, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention are calling for integration at church. They are preaching that integrated churches can help with racial healing in our society. Currently less than one percent of Southern Baptist Churches are multiethnic. “Christianity is not racial — we make it racial,” Pastor William Watson at the Historic First Baptist Church near downtown Jackson said. Watson believes churches are so segregated because he said worship has always been a safe place for African Americans. “More than anything, people bring their personal biases to worship than their Christianity and so that’s why it’s a difficult aspect,” Watson said. Watson and Pastor Justin Wainscott at First Baptist Church in Midtown have been working together to help integrate their congregations since 2012. “We had a joint worship service together, and since then we’ve developed a wonderful friendship and partnership,” Wainscott said. “We worship together a couple of times a year.” Lane College President Dr. Logan Hampton said the church is one of the few places people still feel comfortable labeling black and white. Wainscott said it is sad but true. “Sunday morning is still one of the most segregated hours in our country, which is sad,” Wainscott said. “That ought to be the place where we ought to be at the very forefront of racial reconciliation.” Watson said he has heard church members express their hopes that churches will become more integrated. “I’ve heard it,” Watson said. “Hearing it and doing it are two different things.” Wainscott said this plea should have been made years ago. “And I think we recognize that, and so we’re trying to do what we can. We’re trying to make steps in the right direction.” Watson believes once pastors are able to work together, congregations can work together. The Rev. Russell Moore who leads the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has organized a leadership summit on racial reconciliation that will be held March 26 and 27 in Nashville.
