We are praying for the church and the pastor. They are the only ones who know the whole story in this case. We pray the best interest for the body of Christ is God's favor.
The internal struggle has forced parishioners at one of our county's largest black churches to take sides.
"All we're asking is that they follow the bylaws," said parishioner Holly Mitchell.
St. John Missionary Baptist Church is a spiritual house divided.
"We want the membership to vote on whether Pastor Alfred should continue as the pastor," said Mitchell.
Six
parishioners have sued, demanding a vote to fire Pastor Alfred from his
job. They say they signed petitions and brought the issue up at
business meetings before the church's deacons.
"If
we have a fair meeting and we have a vote, then that decides the
matter, but it should not be for 16 men and Alfred and his tyrannical
way of leading to make that decision," said Mitchell.
"The
vote went before the Deacon Board and they were all asked if they
wanted to recall the pastor, and the vote was no," said church member
Linda Hoyle.
Dozens of people sat on chairs
outside the small downtown courtroom after about a hundred people showed
up to witness what would happen.
There were questions about the church's finances.
"Our PG&E bill has been as delinquent as $24,000 and we are on a payment plan," said Mitchell.
"There's
no problems in the church. I think what it is is because they have
chosen to give monetarily, they want problems to happen in the church,"
said Woolfolk.
Court Commissioner Linda Etienne will have 90 days to make a decision after all the evidence is heard.
