The church was "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," Stevens said. "I could not go along with that. There would always be a wall between us, so I resigned that night."...
Since Stevens' resignation, one church member who was not at the Aug. 6 meeting has called the former pastor and told him he was in favor of what he did. Stevens estimates 80 percent of the church is against having blacks as members of the congregation.
Pastor claims church voted to reject black membership, resigns
8/26/2006 8:34:40 AM
Daily Journal
BY CHARITY GORDON
Daily Journal
SALTILLO - A pastor who says his congregation voted not to accept black membership has resigned. The church says it never made such a decision.
The Rev. John Stevens says Fellowship Baptist Church in Saltillo voted not to approve blacks as members during a scheduled Sunday night business meeting Aug. 6. Because of the decision, Stevens stepped down from the Baptist Missionary Alliance congregation that has an average Sunday morning attendance of 30 people.
According to Stevens, the church made race an issue after a biracial 12-year-old boy, Joe, began attending Fellowship Baptist with his temporary guardians.
The church was "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," Stevens said. "I could not go along with that. There would always be a wall between us, so I resigned that night."
After the Daily Journal contacted Fellowship Baptist members, they gathered Aug. 17 to form a response. Mike Dillard, who acted as spokesperson for the church, said the congregation "categorically denies" accusations that the church took such a vote and feels the charge is an attempt by a party to do them harm.
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Hate mail to wrong church
First Baptist Church is located in beautiful, rural Saltillo, Pennsylvania, and is pastored by Rev. Dave Oldham. Pastor Oldham leads a Spirited Worship Service. His special style of teaching can be grasped by young and old alike.
Our Sunday School is a powerful time of Bible study, discussion, and life application. Sit in sometime, ...we think you'll enjoy it.
There is a special time for Prayer and Prayer Requests.
The service is a mix of Praise and Traditional Hymns. We are a Bible believing, Holy Spirit annointed Family of God. We are a small, growing church with approx. 110 members. We have a very dedicated Fellowship Committee, and a hard working Board of Missions. Please take some time to browse our Web Page. We look forward to having you come and worship with us on the Lord's Day! ..................................................................................................We have been receiving hatemail because of something that took place in a church in Mississippi. We are not that church. We accept all colors, creeds, and nationalities in our congregation.The persons that wrote the hatemail to us made a mistake and are forgiven but the church that (allegedly) kicked out a young boy because he was bi-racial, after accepting Christ as Savior,although we forgive you, may want to consider your beliefs and delve a little deeper in to God's Word, the Bible, and see what Jesus has to say about this situation you've found yourselves in.I think you will find scripture that totally disagrees with your decision.
                        Saltillo, MS... please know that  "We Are Praying For You"
Wrong church
FBC Saltillo... (PA)
Good Job
comparing saltillos
As I searched The Pennsylvania Baptist Church web site I found their "Doctrinal Statement"Â Sure sounds like a different place compared to the one in Mississippi. Check out the last statement.
Here it is:
First Baptist Church of Saltillo, PA
http://firstbaptistsaltillo.chweb.org
saltillo@mail.com
Doctrinal Statement
Salvation:Â Â We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins and that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again beginning life anew, in Christ Jesus.
The Bible:Â Â We believe that the Bible, all 66 books, is the Word of the Living God, given to us by the Holy Spirit and is to be used for edification, teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.Â
The Trinity:  We believe in the “Three-in-One� …God the Father who is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient …Jesus Christ the Son who was fully man and is fully God and … the Holy Spirit Who is our Helper and Comforter -  all  being part of  the Trinity, God in three persons,  yet One God.
 Â
Ordinances:  We believe in “Believers Baptism� by full immersion which represents our identity with Jesus Christ and Communion, a symbolic reminder of our Lord’s sacrifice for sin – the bread representing His body, which was broken for us and the wine/juice, representing His blood that was shed for us.
 Â
Christian Hope:Â Â Our hope is in Heaven, a place where Jesus has gone to prepare for those who love, live and believe in Him and His sacrificial death on the cross; Â while working and waiting for the Rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ as He promised at the Ascension into Heaven.
 Â
Church:  The church is the body of believers consisting of all nationalities, races, and colors with a common goal …to serve Jesus Christ by spreading the gospel, maturing the saints, and caring for the poor, widows, orphans, prisoners, sick, and oppressed.