Posted on 11/14/2023 9:04:46 PM PST by Morgana
When Alice “Sallie” Garrison passed this August, her dying wish was to be buried at First Baptist Church Hollins (FBCH) in Roanoke, Virginia. The 82-year-old wanted to be laid to rest beside her parents, siblings, and other extended family members, but the church initially denied her request because of her alleged failure to tithe, The Roanoke Times reported.
FBCH Pastor Rev. Harvey Saunders reportedly told Garrison’s family members that their deceased loved one had been removed from church membership for failing to tithe. Church bylaws prohibit non church member from being buried in the church’s cemetery, The Roanoke Times said.
Now after months of dispute, Garrison is finally buried at the church to which she had been committed her whole life, family members announced on Facebook.
When Pastor Saunders denied the burial request, her family contested his claims that Garrison had stopped tithing, The Roanoke Times reported. The family alleged that she continued to give to the church despite health issues that kept her from regularly attending.
Her family said Garrison had sent 22 checks to the church between 2016 and 2023. Garrison’s last check was sent on Jan. 3 for $400. Totaling $1,765 , the family told The Roanoke Times that all in checks have been cashed.
Garrison had long been involved with the church, and even accepted Christ at FBCH at young age, according to her obituary. While attending FBCH, she quickly gravitated toward music and used her “strong and powerful alto voice” to sing in the church choir and found its youth choir, the obituary added.
She also facilitated a youth summer program at FBCH.
“Her dying wish was to be buried in that (church) cemetery,” her son Gregory Garrison told The Roanoke Times.
In September, Brenda Hale, leader of Roanoke’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said she unsuccessfully attempted to intercede on Garrison’s behalf.
“She was baptized there,” Hale said. “She was a vibrant member for years. She started a choir there. She was someone to be respected.”
Hale added that Garrison lived on Social, but still managed to donate whatever she could.
Following Hale’s advocacy, Garrison’s family launched a change.org petition in September to ensure Garrison received the “proper burial she deserves.”
The petition said that Garrison was a devoted church member and the “backbone” of the musical department.
“Our beloved mother’s unwavering faithfulness and dutifulness to her church throughout the decades has ended in utter and shear disrespect rendered by the attending church pastor,” the petition stated. “Our goal is to bury our mom in her rightful place, a place where she grew up and a place where she worshipped and was adored by those who knew her.”
The petition alleges that Garrison was removed from church membership without “proper notification.”
“We firmly believe that it is an injustice and a gross act of discrimination that a religious institution has denied its member the right of burial,” the petition added. “Her entire family that preceded her in death is buried in the cemetery. Only five months ago her beloved sister was buried there.”
The petition has received more than 14,700 signatures.
Saunders and FBCH finally yielded and allowed Garrison to be buried at the church’s cemetery. This past Friday she was laid to rest.
Garrison’s granddaughter, Alycia Garrison, announced the burial of her grandmother on a Facebook post. “We, the Garrison family cannot thank you enough for the outpouring of love and support that you have shown our family, from all corners of the earth,” she said.
Garrison’s daughter, Kathy Garrison, similarly expressed gratitude on Facebook. “I am so pleased to announce that this opportunity has brought out the very best in everyone of you towards us,” Kathy wrote. “Your acts of kindness are unforgettable and we will forever love you for all the sweet things you have done for us.”
This is why we already have a family plot paid in full
God bless you, Sallie Garrison.
What an idiot pastor
Some people only donate in cash due to biblical convictions. How would that church deal with that situation?
Tithing is not a requirement for Christians. It’s part of the Old Testament that was fulfilled by Jesus. Just as baptism is
This is why I always have two jerry cans of gas and a couple of cords of good dry oak.
Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
Infant baptism?
Where in the OT is baptism?
I guess the pastor forgot about the widow’s mite.
pastor should be defrocked. What a jerk.
Exactly right. The tithe took the place of taxes, and supported the Levite priests under the Levitical system of laws. It was required because it was not just a religious offering but also helped support their form of government. Also, the tithe was never in the form of money, but rather agricultural goods. Under the New Testament, the only direction as pertains to giving is, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Unfortunately, virtually all charismatics and especially the “prosperity gospel” churches today push hard on the mistaken notion of modern-day tithing. Most do so innocently, just misunderstanding the fact that the tithe was part of Old Testament law, and is no longer applicable, but the prosperity gospel preachers use this misunderstanding deviously, to guilt believers into filling their pockets. If you are ever in a church that constantly begs for “seed offerings”, and promises big financial blessings in return, RUN and don’t look back. That nonsense is NOT Biblical. Of course, we should be generous toward everyone we encounter, and our local churches (at least, the truly Biblical ones) need our financial support, but that is different than the no longer applicable tithe.
this is a mark on the minister and whatever lay council there was. years ago, I belonged to a congregation that had a large elderly congregation. a lot of the membership was unable to attend church regularly for health reasons. The congregation made a concerted effort after service to send out lay ministers to the parishioners that could not attend to give them the eucharist and to do a wellness check. our pastor also would try to do personal visits during the week rotating through the directory of home bound parishioners. tithing never determined membership and those that did tithe it was not a set amount. We were lucky to have several members that always stepped in to make up for budgetary shortfalls when normal tithing did not cover the bills.
It was the church’s membership rules that required tithing, but a church should also recognize that, especially with the elderly on SS-limited income, some understanding should be applied. Also, tithing in the Old Testament usually involved livestock and crops, not currency. She seems to have been active in giving her labor to the Lord, as well some money, which makes it particularly petty to not allow her burial in the cemetery.
lol
No wonder the Mormon church has billions stashed away no one can access
Agreed. You are to give with a grateful heart.
Religion is free.
God needs nothing. The cattle on 1000 hills are his.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.