The Problem of Slavery in Christian America: An Ethical-Judicial History of American Slavery and Racism

by Joel McDurmon

Not only would slaveholding and its attendant practices not be subjects of church discipline, but agitating against them would be: “They now sought the make an antislavery stance an actionable offense that required church discipline.” In 1805, The North District Association in Kentucky took aim at prominent antislavery activist David Barrow. Representatives from an outside association, in fact, came over to introduce charges of “Meddling with Emancipation” by “preaching the doctrine of emancipation, to the hurt and injury of the feelings of the brotherhood.” So much about the bringing of these charges were irregular and contrary to the judicial structure of the Baptist churches and associations, but the power was so much on the side of the proslavery forces that they were able to ignore their own rules in order to suppress their moral opposition. The result was one more forced-feeding of the two kingdoms rule to the churches in a top-down fashion. The association issued a circular letter blasting the antislavery faction as “so far deluded, that their printing, preaching, and private conversation, go to encourage disobedience in servants, and a revolution in our Civil Government.” Barrow was eventually tried and expelled from the association.