For nearly a century, Union Grove Baptist Church has been the one constant in Genora Hamm Biggs’ life.
She has been an active member of the small congregation in northeast Georgia since she was 11 years old, serving at various times as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, church secretary, treasurer and mission president.
No matter the season, Union Grove was her place of understanding, a safe haven from the trials and storms of life. In a word, family.
Then a few years ago, Mother Biggs noticed things changing at Union Grove. A new pastor, the Rev. Timothy Mattox, began laying hands on members who would be flailing on the floor.
That didn’t sit well with the 103-year-old great-great-grandmother.
“Baptists don’t do that,” she said.
Biggs telephoned Mattox, a former student of hers, and left a message that she said went unanswered. At last month’s church conference meeting, Mother Biggs rose to ask Mattox why he hadn’t returned her call.
That’s when Deacon Glen Jackson, Biggs said, made a motion to revoke her membership and, well, you already know.
Biggs didn’t think much of the action. It wasn’t the first time she’d disagreed with one of the church’s pastors.
Days later, she received an official letter from the church dated Aug. 2.
“This letter is to inform you that according to the bylaws of the Union Grove Baptist Church, and by the vote of the active members, any membership or associations that you have had with this church are now officially revoked,” it stated. “Therefore, you cannot attend Union Grove Baptist church for any reason what so ever. You are not to come to the property of the Union Grove Baptist Church located at 680 Pulliam Street, Elberton, Ga. 30635.”
The letter — printed above in its entirety — was signed by Mattox, his wife, Kim Mattox, Deacon Jackson, two of mother Biggs’ cousins, Mary Catherine Hamm Harris and Makayla Tate, the church secretary Homerzell Heard, and half a dozen of the church’s 20 or so members.
Mattox did not respond to telephone messages left at home in Athens. Deacon Jackson could also not be reached for comment. Heard said the pastor instructed members not to speak to the media.
“Let God take over,” said the church secretary.
Depending on how you look at it, God has done just that. Since the story broke early this week, there has been an outpouring of support from all over the country for Biggs. Strangers from as far away as Louisiana, Philadelphia and Michigan have called to tell her to “stick to your guns.”
Despite being told she could no longer attend services at Union Grove, Biggs returned last Sunday. Mattox summoned the police to remove her but they refused saying it was a civil matter. The pastor abruptly dismissed the service, turned the lights out and left the church mother sitting in the dark.
That’s when the dispute became public.
Although Biggs wasn’t the only member to have her membership revoked, she has gotten the most attention.
“As old as I am, we have never had anything happen like this,” Biggs said, still in shock.
This shouldn’t be happening. Church should exist to help people not hurt them. Church should welcome with open arms not declare people unacceptable. It should be quick to seek reconciliation not victory in right opinion.
The dispute between Union Grove and Mother Biggs is pretty unusual but scripture is pretty clear about how to resolve such issues, says Robert Franklin, an ordained minister and professor of moral leadership at Emory University. Franklin is also the former president of Morehouse College and has a national reputation as a black church scholar.
In Matthew 5:21, for instance, Jesus makes it clear that Christians are to seek reconciliation before all else.
“On that ground alone, I am stunned, stunned by this act,” Franklin said. “Unless someone was being disruptive or is perceived as a threat, this is really an over reach of power.”
Only when the disagreement is between two preachers as illustrated in Acts 15:39, is parting company an acceptable option, said Franklin. In this instance, he said, such a power play against a member is inappropriate and Union Grove is acting more like a social club than a church.
“Maybe this is a wake up call for them to examine who they really are and what they should be doing in people’s lives,” Franklin said.
Although there are churches that have rules about expressing dissent and voting people out, Franklin said he finds those kinds of churches troubling because it’s a departure from what Jesus intended the church to be – a home for all people.
I counted a half dozen churches on the 20-mile stretch of Highway 17 that leads to Mother Biggs’ home. Why not go to another one for worship?
“I’ve been a member of Union Grove all my life,” she said. “I can’t leave my church.”
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