*A Virginia Pastor at the True Vine Apostolic Church in Hampton is catching heat on social media after forcing a teenager to apologize to the congregation for her pregnancy.
The clip, shared by award-winning journalist Jemele Hill, was filmed at the church led by Bishop Terry Jackson and First Lady Paulette Jackson. Many online comments criticized the church for publicly shaming the girl and failing to support her.
“A Virginia pastor made a teenage girl stand up before the congregation to apologize for being pregnant,” Hill captioned the Instagram video. “I have a lot of thoughts but I’m going to let y’all have it. But I’ll just say this: The only person who should be ashamed in this scenario is the pastor. I hope she finds a new church home.”
The teenager is heard saying in the clip: “I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant… I’m sorry y’all. I just hope that y’all all forgive me.”
After his speech, the pastor called her a sinner. Watch the IG video below.
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“If you sin, you don’t wait till the baby come to repent… she already know[s] what time it is,” he preached. “We ain’t gon’ condone your sin now… we ain’t gon do that. Ain’t no baby showers going on, that’s what you lose out on. When you have a baby out of wedlock you don’t get a baby shower and nobody at this church should attend one.”
In a separate viral video, activist @JaPharii757 confronts the pastor for humiliating the young woman. Watch the tense moment via the X post below.
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A woman claiming to be the teenager’s mother responded to the backlash against he pastor, Vibe reports.
“To everyone that’s concerned, we greatly appreciate it. However, I do want you to know that you all are interrupting my peace and is causing more damage than good. You are showing up disrupting my church, my beliefs, and disrespecting my pastor. I am where I want to be and where I chose to be. We were not forced or manipulated to stand before the congregation. My daughter willingly approached the congregation and was welcomed and embraced with open arms. I stand on what I’ve been taught, and I’m raising my daughter to do the same,” Dee Myles wrote in a Facebook comment shared by The Neighborhood Talk.
Meanwhile, “The View’s” Sunny Hostin commented on Hill’s post, writing “I will host the baby shower. Pls contact me sweetheart. Your baby will be celebrated and loved.”
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