A Baptist church allegedly told a 92-year-old she is no longer allowed to worship there, because she hasn't given enough donations nor paid her tithe.
Josephine King
The leadership of the First African Baptist Church of Bainbridge, Georgia in the United States of America have banned a 92-year old woman named Josephine King for not making enough financial donations and tithe to the development of the church.
WALB News has reported the banned woman has been a member of the church for a staggering period of over 50 years.
This makes Josephine the first person to be excommunicated from the church over failure to pay tithes. As explained, tithing is a donation, though some regard it as a tax, to a place of worship. Worshipers are expected to pay the church 10 percent of what they have as a tithe.
King was “sick and a shut in” for several months, which is why she didn’t attend church for a long period, her nephew, Gerald Simmons, told WALB News. He said King has gone “above and beyond” for the church financially in the past.
The letter signed by Senior Pastor Derrick Mike said, “Josephine King is no longer considered a member of the First African Baptist Church of Bainbridge, Georgia.” The letter went on to explain she “has shown non-support” by not providing “constant and consistent financial and physical participation.”
“She was stunned. She was disappointed. She was shocked,” Simmons said.
This has attracted massive criticisms from the general public.