Rev. Dewayne Warren of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church, Mississippi refused to baptise a baby because the child’s parent are not wedded.
Gatekeepers News reports that the young couple wanted their new baby to be baptised at their church, but said the reverend sent them a letter refusing to perform the sacred ceremony because they were not married and ‘living in sin.’
Kamri Mclendon, 18, and her boyfriend of two years, Tristan Mcphail, are parents to daughter Presleigh, who was born in May.
Mclendon had been attending the church since she was young and wanted her own daughter to be baptised there.
However, in a letter the young mother shared on Facebook, Rev. Warren wrote that he would not be performing the baptism because the baby was born out of wedlock and that Mclendon and ‘the baby’s father’ were living together ‘in sin.’
He also pointed out that Mclendon’s mother was also not married, yet living with a man, and that the couple were not in regular attendance at the church.
Mclendon, who shared the letter on Facebook, explained they had missed some church services because of their schedule with a new baby.
Mclendon wrote, “She added that she felt ‘shamed’ by the church she grew up in and wrote: ‘Instances like this are why young people are scared to go to church. We are aware we sinned, but us repenting for that is between us and the Lord, not to be shamed by a church.
“When people ask why there are no young people in these churches this is why.”
She wrote, “I will be the first to admit that yes I have sinned and have done wrong in my life. How did me trying to dedicate my daughter to Jesus turn into us being shamed for being young parents and unmarried?”
The letter, which was dated September 15, also stated that if Warren were to perform the infant baptism, it would set a bad example for the youth and children of the church.
The letter read, “I am informed that you and the baby’s father are living together in sin; the baby was conceived before the parents were married,’ the letter began.
“It would be saying to them that the lifestyle that you are living is OK for a Christian. That is not so.”
Mclendon and her boyfriend said they were shocked by the letter after they were initially told that Warren would perform the baptism for their daughter.
Mclendon said, “He knew all of the information of us not being married, all of that, … And he agreed to it. He was like, “Yeah, that works.” His wife sent us the material of what would need to be said at the service. He even announced it to the congregation. My grandmother and my aunt and uncle were all there. And then he sent us that letter.”
