Tennessee Pastors Express Outrage Over Supreme Court Rulings

Southern Christian Coalition calls out decisions they say are "discouraging" and "harmful"

During a week in which a number of Supreme Court rulings were handed down, Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition lamented the impact of decisions the group says will harm Tennesseans.

"I'm so disheartened, discouraged, and, honestly, angered by the recent rulings from the Supreme Court against affirmative action, against equality for same- sex couples, and against the biblical value of debt forgiveness," said Rev. Josh Scott, Lead Pastor of GracePointe Church in Nashville. "Equality is an essential part of human flourishing. Unfortunately, it appears that several Supreme Court Justices are using their power to ration rights, take away freedoms, and deny opportunities to certain Americans. These extreme Justices, bankrolled by dark- money billionaires, have recommitted themselves to discrimination."

“I am deeply disheartened at the SCOTUS ruling that effectively ends race-conscious admissions practices at colleges and universities in the United States," stated Rev. Dr. Lillian Lammers, Pastor at First Presbyterian Church-Memphis. "While many may wish this reflects a 'race neutral' process, rooted in the belief in our arrival at a post-racial society, this ruling denies the realities of systemic racism and significant racial disparities that persist in our country. As a pastor, I have always appreciated how our higher education institutions have utilized affirmative action to create cohorts that are more reflective of both the Kingdom of God and the population of our nation.”

Scott called on believers to rally to counter the harm done by the recent rulings:

"Those of us who believe that every single American deserves equality and freedom must come together, as those who have come before us, to make this country a place where people of all races, backgrounds, and gender identities are free to learn, love, and thrive as their full selves."

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