As if the latest string of arsons and the Charleston shooting weren’t enough, now three black churches in South Carolina have a new terror to deal with: death threats against their pastors.
The pastors, all women, have been targeted for their gender.
Pastor Valarie Bartley received a letter stating,“the woman cannot be head of the man in church, home and the world.”
Pastor Mary Rhodes said that the letter she received quoted Bible verses to her in an effort to dissuade her from preaching. The letter moved on to specific levy threats against her life and family. She was told to stop preaching “or you and children will die.”
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“Whoever wrote this letter has taken the time to find out who I am which means you may know my children, my grandchildren, and I have no clue who you are,” she said.
The third pastor has remained unidentified. All of the letters were signed by Apostle Prophet Harry Leon Fleming.
“A lot of people do not respect female pastors,” Rhodes explained. “Sexism in the church has been around for the longest time and it always gets, to my opinion, sort of hidden under the other issues that are there.”
The Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office has since come forward to say that they are taking the letters and threats seriously.
“The Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their quest in attempt to locate the person or persons responsible for distributing the letters and will have deputies posted at every church that received the letter,” a statement from Clarendon County Sheriff Randy Garrett said. “The citizens of Clarendon County will be able to worship in peace.”