Charisma News reported Tuesday that Freedom House Church in Charlotte, N.C., asked “only white people” to greet at its front doors in an effort to “bring [the church’s] racial demographic pendulum back to mid-line.”
The church has apologized for the incident and sent Charisma News the following statement:
“One of our longtime pastors, in keeping with our church’s desire to be inclusive and intentionally reach out to all races, noticed our front door greeting team was no longer reflecting the racial diversity of our entire congregation, and she wanted potential visitors to see people like themselves upon entering our church,” the statement says.
“However, she made an error in judgment in requesting all white greeters at the front door, going overboard in placing emphasis on any one race over another in trying to highlight diversity within the greeting team. She admits this was a grave lapse in judgment and is sincerely sorry for her actions. She immediately apologized and has asked our forgiveness. She and senior pastors have made themselves available to meet with any church members who want to discuss this situation with them, and have communicated their true heart in this matter—to be a church welcoming and inclusive to all.
“Freedom House believes in a diverse relationship within its membership, reflecting the larger community in which the church resides, doing life together as a church representative of everyone—culturally, ethnically, economically and generationally.”
