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Review of First Friends Church Canton Oh...

I was very surprised by the athletic department he...

I was very surprised by the athletic department held here at this church, I would say at the least that I am hardly able to recognize that it is a church based athletic organization. Most people firmly believe that you can not say anything negative about a church and how some things are carried out, however I was blessed with a freedom to speak freely and I am! I watched my wife work as a referee within this church league and be taunted and harassed nonetheless for being a female in a predominantly male field. She was harassed by spectators and other referees, the issue was handled mildly and those individuals were allowed back for her to have to face over and over. It just so happened that I could no longer take anymore of this blatant disrespect and I had an outburst, in which Ryan called my wife and told her I was not allowed back INDEFINITELY! Mind you this is a church, I was never asked what happened. I was biasly judged 1. Because we are a gay couple 2. Prejudicly because at the time I was an angry African American whom was frustrated by the lack of anyone doing anything. Again I was never asked what happened, I was judged and told not to return. Had this same dedication to cast me out been reflected on the individuals whom taunted my wife I could be in complete understanding. As their would have been equal punishment for everyone. However, the purpose of church discipline is not to be mean-spirited or to display a holier-than-thou attitude. Rather, the goal of church discipline is the restoration of the individual to full fellowship with both God and other believers. The discipline is to start privately and gradually become more public. It is to be done in love toward the individual and in obedience to God. Instead I had the police called on me, they almost had me arrested for untruthfully telling the police that I physically assualted someone, and I was publicly humiliated during questioning. I will gladly keep my distance from this church and it s athletic department, I was judged on things that only God should have judged me for. I was taught that if you don t stand for something, You ll fall for anything! I stood up for what was right. I admit that it could have been handled better on my end, but seeing constant neglect by this organization to do something to protect my wife I acted out of outrage. I never felt welcome as a spectator or supporter. The Holier than Thou Attitude is definitely evident. I am no better than the next, and I am able to admit that. My flaws are mine, not anyone else s to belittle. My prayers are for the athletic department and for the betterment of the church to put more effort into making sure that it s being run to bring fellowship and not to seek people out for their differences, race, gender, or sexual orientation.