In a viral clip, an unwed teenager is forced to apologize to her church congregation for her pregnancy, causing online debate. Shared on Instagram by media personality and journalist Jemele Hill, the video comes from the True Vine Apostolic Church in Hampton, VA., led by Bishop Terry Jackson and First Lady Sister Paulette Jackson.
“A Virginia pastor made a teenage girl stand up before the congregation to apologize for being pregnant,” details Hill in her caption. “I have a lot of thoughts but I’m going to let y’all have it. But I’ll just say this: The only person who should be ashamed in this scenario is the pastor. I hope she finds a new church home.”
In the clip, a young girl stands in front of full pews emotionally announcing, “I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant… I’m sorry y’all. I just hope that y’all all forgive me.” The church members rise to their feet and clapped after she ended with a request for prayer as the pastor returns to the podium.
“If you sin, you don’t wait till the baby come to repent… she already know[s] what time it is,” he preached. “We ain’t gon’ condone your sin now… we ain’t gon do that. Ain’t no baby showers going on, that’s what you lose out on. When you have a baby out of wedlock you don’t get a baby shower and nobody at this church should attend one.”
Comments in Hill’s upload ultimately support the unnamed girl and condemn the church for the public shame. Sunny Hostin even offered, “I will host the baby shower. Pls contact me sweetheart. Your baby will be celebrated and loved.”
As the clip continued to make digital rounds, a woman claiming to be the grandmother of the infant shared her response to the backlash.
“To everyone that’s concerned, we greatly appreciate it. However, I do want you to know that you all are interrupting my peace and is causing more damage than good. You are showing up disrupting my church, my beliefs, and disrespecting my pastor. I am where I want to be and where I chose to be. We were not forced or manipulated to stand before the congregation. My daughter willingly approached the congregation and was welcomed and embraced with open arms. I stand on what I’ve been taught, and I’m raising my daughter to do the same,” writes Dee Myles in a Facebook comment shared by The Neighborhood Talk.
According to the church’s official website, Bishop Terry Jackson’s goal is “to fulfill the Lord’s work by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering baptism for the remission of sins, and bringing new souls into the fold.”
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