Hogansville pastors continue annual pulpit swap on Sunday

On Sunday, two pastors — one white, one black — will continue their tradition of swapping churches in the name of unity and fellowship.

Pastor George Bailey and Pastor Greg Morris have been switching churches in July and December for the last five years on their church anniversaries.

Bailey, a resident of Hogansville and pastor of White Oak Grove Baptist Church, a majority Black church in Senoia will deliver the sermon on Sunday at First Baptist Church of Hogansville where Morris normally preaches.

Over the years, the tradition of swapping the ministers from a majority Black church with one from a majority White church has been seen as move toward racial reconciliation, but if you ask Morris and Bailey, it’s just two friends preaching at each other’s churches.

Morris said the idea originally came about when he suggested to Bailey that he come preach at his church for his church anniversary. Bailey agreed to do so and invited Morris to do the same for his church anniversary in December.

The two agreed to the swap not thinking about the potential racial implications but in the end it’s been great for both congregations.

“Church on Sunday morning is often one of the most racially segregated times in America,” Baily said.

It wasn’t initially their goal to promote diversity with the church swap but the annual tradition has brought both churches closer together.

“Church has been a lot of fun and a lot of people come out and mix the cultures,” Bailey said. “Since we’ve been doing this, I think it gets bigger every year. People love it,” Bailey said.

“We try to put forward a fellowship that isn’t Black or White,” Morris said. “We try to bring the spirit of unity with prayer and fellowship.”

The most noticeable difference in the pastor swap is the music. Along with switching pastors, the churches take their choirs with them.

While the event has become a big deal for both congregations, for Morris and Bailey it’s just two friends sharing the word of God.

“We certainly weren’t the first churches do something like this,” Morris said. “It’s just two buddies preaching that God has used to open up doors of love and acceptance. That’s what it is.”

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