Aprominent Black pastor in Atlanta has apologized for remarks in a recent sermon about instructions for obeying government authority, saying he should have used “more nuance” when providing lessons from his own encounter with law enforcement and blaming some police killings on disobedience.
“Without a doubt, I understand the framing I used about Black children and their relationship with police was and is harmful. I know that Black people have been killed by the police when being both compliant and noncompliant,” Philip Anthony Mitchell wrote in an Instagram post last week. Mitchell pastors 2819 Church, a growing multiethnic congregation with a large following among Black evangelicals.
His response comes after a flurry of online criticism from some fellow Black Christians and internet personalities, who said his April 13 sermon discounted the history of Black people who were killed by police despite following orders. The backlash was picked up in Black publications, such as The Root and Atlanta Black Star. However, some social media users also came to Mitchell’s defense, saying his comments were biblical, though unpopular. During the sermon, some in his congregation cheered along.
“Without a doubt, I understand the framing I used about Black children and their relationship with police was and is harmful. I know that Black people have been killed by the police when being both compliant and noncompliant,” Philip Anthony Mitchell wrote in an Instagram post last week. Mitchell pastors 2819 Church, a growing multiethnic congregation with a large following among Black evangelicals.
His response comes after a flurry of online criticism from some fellow Black Christians and internet personalities, who said his April 13 sermon discounted the history of Black people who were killed by police despite following orders. The backlash was picked up in Black publications, such as The Root and Atlanta Black Star. However, some social media users also came to Mitchell’s defense, saying his comments were biblical, though unpopular. During the sermon, some in his congregation cheered along.