A clip went viral of a Christian teenager apologizing to her church for getting pregnant. The short video clip of the apology at True Vine Apostolic Church of Christ features Bishop Terry W. Jackson, instructing the woman how to stand before she offered the congregation her brief apology and revealed her pregnancy. The pastor supported the girl and noted that what she did was right instead of waiting later to repent.
The girl said “I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant. I’m sorry y’all,” as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I just hope that y’all forgive me.” The pastor commented, “If you sin, you don’t wait no two, three, you don’t wait ‘til the baby come to repent. You repent now.” The congregation erupted in shouts of “amen.” He also exhorted the teen to make a long-term change.
“You just don’t do it again. She already knows what time it is. The church is praying for you. We ain’t goin’ condone your sin now. We ain’t goin’ do that. Ain’t no baby showers going on. That’s what you lose out on,” he said, drawing attention to the dangers of teen pregnancy. He said “When you have a baby out of wedlock, ain’t no showers. And nobody at this church ‘bout to attend one. Momma shouldn’t have one neither. You got to take care of your granddaughter, but you can’t condone sin.”
The video went viral on social media. Jemele Hill, sports reporter and podcaster, shared the footage to her nearly 860,000 followers. She said “A Virginia pastor made a teenage girl stand up before the congregation to apologize for being pregnant. 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.”
One poster offered the teen help. “I will host the baby shower. Pls contact me, sweetheart. Your baby will be celebrated and loved,” he wrote. Many critics pointed out how this practice is applied unfairly. They drew attention to why the man who got her pregnant wasn’t similarly made to apologize before the congregation. Other users asked if all sins are handled this way in the church.
Leonard King wrote a popular comment on the issue. “Lastly, if the woman were to stand there the man should have to. Time to stop the oppression of our women by shaming them and giving the man a slap on the wrist. Get right church and let’s go home. Because this definitely was not it. Now we wonder why so many people are leaving the faith. It’s because of things like this. Prayers for this whole situation!” he posted.
Another response said “Y’all being shamed across the whole country and your church going to be shut down soon. Just know that we’ll be protesting y’all, boycotting y’all, getting that girl the help that [she needs]. Y’all want to get publicly shaming people? Now it’s time for y’all to be publicly shamed.” This commenter noted that he grew up in the church.
However, her mother defended the pastor. “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,” she explained. “I stand on what I have been taught, and I’m raising my daughter to do the same. I stand with my pastor!”