A young pastor in rural Alabama says he lost his job after members of his congregation objected to his efforts to invite Black children to attend church activities. Jonathan Greer, 26, was serving as the minister at Mt. Sterling Baptist Church in Butler, Alabama when he was dismissed by a unanimous vote of the church leadership.
Greer told reporters that the dispute began when he tried to include Black children in the church’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) program. According to Greer, he was specifically told by church leaders not to invite Black children, and was repeatedly warned against doing so. When he raised the issue from the pulpit in a sermon denouncing racism, tensions in the congregation reportedly worsened.
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“I wanted the church to know that this is not consistent with the gospel,” Greer later said in an interview. “God’s word teaches us to honor and give dignity to all people, and racism denies that to a certain group.”
The church’s deacons, however, disputed Greer’s account. Freddie Moore, a deacon at Mt. Sterling, said Greer’s dismissal stemmed from other issues, including his strained relationships with church officials and insufficient engagement with church members. Moore insisted that people of all races were welcome at the congregation and that the firing was not based on race.
Greer’s termination came about one and a half years after he was hired, after a leadership vote of 31-0 to remove him. Following the decision, the pastor said he has received an outpouring of support from people both inside and outside his community.
The incident sparked broader discussions about race, inclusion, and how small congregations navigate diversity, especially in regions where racial divides remain sensitive. Some supporters argue that Greer’s stance was rooted in Christian teachings on equality, while critics within the church say the conflict was more about leadership styles and disagreements over church priorities.
