Black Ministers Battle Anti-Christian Bigotry in Georgia, Urge Governor to Reverse

By Anika Smith Published on April 1, 2016

A group of black ministers urged Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to reverse his pledge to veto a religious liberty bill Thursday.

The legislation, called HB 757 in the Georgia House of Representatives, included language protecting any “faith-based organization” from being required to provide services, including conducting marriage ceremonies, that it maintains would violate the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion.

These pastors and other religious leaders are calling for a special legislative session to override the Georgia governor’s planned veto.

Opponents of the bill claim it discriminates against the LGBT community. But according to Bishop Garland Hunt, “It is Christians who are the victims of discrimination because we are being forced to deny our faith or lose our jobs, our businesses or even our freedom.”

“All the bill does is narrowly carve out minimal protection for people of faith,” Hunt said.

Bishop Hunt is the senior pastor at The Father’s House in Norcross, Georgia, and one of the main organizers of the group of black ministers.

“We were totally, highly offended and angered to hear that the governor turned his back on faith-based organizations, the faith-based leadership in the state,” Hunt said.

“We met with him several times and he promised us that he would sign legislation that was basically similar to what was presented to him, so we feel like he didn’t keep his word,” he added.

Bishop E. W. Jackson, president of Ministers Taking A Stand, expressed anger at the way corporate interests, including the NFL, have pressured Georgia against religious liberty.

“It is nothing short of slander and anti-Christian bigotry to claim that the Christians of Georgia are motivated by hatred and discrimination,” says Bishop Jackson, “We love everyone, but we love God first, and we will not be forced to violate biblical principle.”

The pastors were joined by former Atlanta Fire Department Chief Kelvin Cochran, who was fired in 2015 for his biblical stance on same-sex marriage. Proponents of HB 757 hope the bill would protect those like Cochran who face discrimination for their religious beliefs.

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