Mississippi Methodist reverend refuses to baptize baby because her parents aren’t married

A young Mississippi couple wanted their new baby baptized at their church, but said the pastor had sent them a letter refusing to perform the sacred ceremony because they were not married and were “living in sin.”

Kamri Mclendon, 18, and her boyfriend of two years, Tristan Mcphail, are parents to daughter Presleigh, who was born in May.

Mclendon attended the Hickory Grove United Methodist Church in Sumrall, Mississippi, from an early age and wanted her own daughter to be baptized there.

But in a letter the young mother shared on Facebook, Rev. Dewayne Warren said he would not perform the baptism because the baby was born out of wedlock and that Mclendon and “the baby’s father” are living together “in sin.”

He also pointed out that Mclendon’s mother was also unmarried, yet still living with a man, and the couple did not attend church regularly.

Mclendon, who shared the letter on Facebook, explained that they had missed some church services due to their schedule with a new baby.

She added that she felt ’embarrassed’ by the church she grew up in, writing: ‘Cases like this are why young people are afraid to go to church. We are aware that we have sinned, but repent, because that is between us and the Lord, not to be disgraced by a church,” Mclendon wrote.

“If people ask why there aren’t young people in these churches, that’s the reason.”

The young couple shared a letter on Facebook from Rev. Dewayne Warren, who wrote that he would not perform the baptism because the baby was born out of wedlock.

Mclendon later shared an update that a Methodist church district superintendent had spoken to the pastor (pictured) and “fixed the situation,” but said she was still injured

“I will be the first to admit that I have indeed sinned and done wrong in my life,” she wrote. “How did I, when I tried to dedicate my daughter to Jesus, cause us to feel ashamed because we were young parents and were single?”

The letter, dated September 15, also stated that if Warren performed infant baptism, it would set a bad example for the youth and children of the Church.

“I have heard 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 tell them that the lifestyle you live is okay for a Christian. That is not true.’

Mclendon and her friend told WLBT that they were shocked by the letter, after initially being told that Warren would perform the baptism for their daughter.

“He knew all the information that we weren’t married, all that,” Mclendon said. “And he agreed. He said, “Yeah, that works.” His wife sent us the material of what should be said during 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 and her boyfriend said they were shocked by the letter after initially being told that Warren would perform the christening for their daughter.

Mclendon added that she felt ’embarrassed’ by the church she grew up in (pictured), writing: ‘These kinds of cases are why young people are afraid to go to church’

In a message, Mclendon wrote that they had requested a “baby initiation” for their daughter and had been given a yes. The ceremony was even announced in the church.

But then got the letter that they don’t do ‘baby initiations’, but baptisms, which are a covenant with God.

“Like, we know what the Bible says,” she said. “We have indeed sinned. But he knew all that and he still agreed. If he had been direct from the start, none of this would have been a problem for either of us.’

Mclendon then shared an update that a Methodist church district superintendent had spoken to the pastor and “resolved the situation.”

But she said the words in the letter still touched her.

“My heart is breaking,” she wrote.