Posted on 07/01/2015 9:45:05 AM PDT by Gamecock
CLARENDON COUNTY, SC (WIS) - Two Clarendon County pastors say they have been targeted with threats of violence just because they are women.
The two pastors received letters where the writer used Bible verses to threaten the women, leaving them concerned about their safety. One letter was left on the front door of Society Hill AME Church on June 10th for Pastor Mary Rhodes.
“Whoever wrote this letter has taken the rime to find out who I am which means you may know my children, my grandchildren, and I have no clue who you are” Pastor Rhodes said.
Four days later, Pastor Valarie Bartley received the same letter at Reevesville AME Church.
The writer, who identifies as Apostle Prophet Harry Leon Fleming, says in the letter that “the woman cannot be head of the man in church, home and the world.”
“A lot of people do not respect female pastors,” Pastor Rhodes said. “Sexism in the church has been around for the longest time and it always gets, to my opinion, sort of hidden under the other issues that are there.”
Investigators from the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office say that one other church led by a female pastor also received the letter.
Pastor Bartley says she worried about their safety because all three churches are located in rural areas.
“We have great concern about who is doing this and we pray they will stop,” Pastor Bartley said.
Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett says he is taking the letters seriously.
“The Clarendon County Sheriff's Office is continuing their quest in attempt to locate the person or persons responsible for distributing the letters and will have deputies posted at every church that received the letter,” Garrett said in a statement. “The citizens of Clarendon County will be able to worship in peace…”
The letters may have struck fear in the hearts of the pastors, but they will not allow it to keep them from worshiping on Sundays.
“Nothing is going to stop me from doing what God has called me to do,” Rhodes said.
Investigators ask anyone info regarding to case to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIMESC.
This probably won’t be revealed as self-inflicted until next week, because investigators will be taking a long weekend off for the 4th.
Frankly, I’d have to see actual evidence of the letters that have been tied to “other than” the intended recipients.
**Sexism in the church has been around for the longest time and it always gets, to my opinion, sort of hidden under the other issues that are there.**
Actually, Scripture forbids this. Still, they shouldn’t be getting threats.
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Related?
Black Suspect Arrested After Racist Message Discovered Outside Predominately Black Church
Agree. They are not following the biblical model.
I’m thinking we may very well see some “false flag” activity, just as that confederate flag incident was perpetrated by a militant black, to make it appear that some racisssst white had placed that flag on a black tomb, something like that. He confessed to the set up.
Christians must be made to look like terrorists, armed and dangerous, and even setting up other Christians to look radical toward other Christians, like female pastors, or some other Christian identity.
I hope we can all of us stand together, not as dupes and useful idiots for those who would have us destroy each other.
Paging Rachel Dolezal...
Rachel Dolezal wrote them
Probably.
I do smell a bit of a rat.
They wouldn't be worried if they were in urban areas?
The Negroes at that other church that really did get shot up are getting too much attention so the ladies decided to do somehting about it and get in on the publicity and the “compassion.”
Lame. Nobody cares. They did this to themselves to get attention.
Scripture makes it clear that women are not to be in leadership positions of authority within the church and tells why, which is because women are more easily deceived, and it’s MAN’S place to be in that kind of authority.
The qualifications for elder and deacon, do NOT include women.
Maybe Rachel-mail?
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