‘You're living in sin’: Reverend refuses to baptize baby because he disapproves of unmarried parents
SUMRALL, MISSISSIPPI: A young couple in Mississippi requested that their newborn be baptized at the church but Rev. Dewayne Warren refused to administer the holy rite because they were not married and "living in sin," as stated in a letter they received from him. Kamri Mclendon, 18, and her partner, Tristan Mcphail, are parents to a girl named Presleigh, who was born in May 2022.
Mclendon wanted her daughter to be baptized at the Hickory Grove United Methodist Church in Sumrall, Mississippi, where she had been a member ever since she was a little girl. However, according to a Facebook post from the young unmarried mother, Rev. Warren stated in a letter that he would not be officiating at the baptism since Mclendon and "the baby's father" were living together "in sin." Additionally, he made note of the fact that the young couple did not frequently attend church. Given their busy schedule with a new baby, Mclendon, who posted the letter on Facebook, said they had missed some church services.
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In her post, she further stated that she was "shamed" by the church she was raised in and claimed, “Instances like this are why young people are scared to go to church. We are aware we sinned, but us repenting for that is between us and the Lord, not to be shamed by a church.” Mclendon added, “When people ask why there are no young people in these churches this is why. I will be the first to admit that yes I have sinned and have done wrong in my life. How did me trying to dedicate my daughter to Jesus turn into us being shamed for being young parents and unmarried?”
According to the letter, which was dated September 15, if Warren were to administer baptism for the newborn, it would be a negative example for the church's youth and young members. “I am informed that you and the baby's father are living together in sin; the baby was conceived before the parents were married,” the letter began. “It would be saying to them that the lifestyle that you are living is OK for a Christian. That is not so.” Mclendon and her boyfriend told WLBT that they were taken aback by the letter after being first informed that Warren would officiate at their daughter's baptism. “He knew all of the information of us not being married, all of that,” Mclendon said. “And he agreed to it. He was like, ‘Yeah, that works.’ His wife sent us the material of what would need to be said at the service. He even announced it to the congregation. My grandmother and my aunt and uncle were all there. And then he sent us that letter.”
Mclendon said in a post that they had asked for a "baby dedication" for their daughter and were granted one. Even the church gave notice of the ceremony. “Like, we know what the Bible says,” she said. “We did, in fact, sin. But he knew all of that and he still agreed to it. If he had been straightforward from the get-go, this wouldn't have been a problem with either of us.” Mclendon said that the letter's comments continued to have an impact on her by saying, “My heart is breaking.”