Whites paid to attend black church

Christian Century, August 23, 2003

About a dozen white worshipers gained 85 an hour for taking up a Louisiana minister's offer to attend his predominantly black church's worship service on Sunday, August 3. Bishop Fred Caldwell, pastor of Greenwood Acres Full Gospel Baptist Church in Shreveport, offered to pay white visitors $5 all hour on Sundays and $10 an hour on Thursdays during the month of August, the Associated Press reported.

"The most racist institution on the planet is the denominational church, and those of us who are born again need to cross the bridge, love one another and do what we know we need to do," Caldwell said. Only a few of the congregation's 4,000-plus members are white. "I came to see who had the nerve to do what he's doing," said Tommy Manshack, who received $15 for attending.

But many of the whites who attended either of the two services on August 3 didn't take the money, which Caldwell was providing from his personal funds. "I would feel guilty accepting the money," said Tricia Ward. "But I was glad to be invited. That's what it took to make me feel at ease."

More whites than Caldwell expected--about 30--came on Sunday. "I just obeyed God and God did the rest," he said.