A video showing Pastor Terry Jackson of True Vine Apostolic Church of Christ in Hampton, Virginia, publicly reprimanding a young woman for being pregnant outside marriage has sparked widespread outrage on social media.
In the viral clip, the woman tearfully apologized to the congregation, saying, “I want to apologize to everybody in here because I am pregnant. I’m sorry, y’all. I just hope that y’all forgive me. Keep on praying for me.”
Pastor Jackson condemned her actions as “out of order” and announced that the church would not celebrate her pregnancy with events such as a baby shower. “If you sin, you don’t wait later to repent. We don’t condone sin. Ain’t no baby showers. That’s what you lose when you have a baby out of wedlock,” he stated.
The incident has ignited a heated debate online, with critics accusing the pastor of public shaming. Journalist Jemele Hill called the pastor’s actions “shameful” and encouraged the woman to find another church. Other commentators questioned why only she was singled out for public reprimand, highlighting the biblical principle of universal sinfulness.
However, some defended the pastor, arguing that his approach was necessary to maintain discipline and uphold church values. Supporters praised the pastor’s stand against what they termed “modern permissiveness.”
True Vine Apostolic Church has not released an official comment, and the controversy has fueled broader discussions on how religious institutions should handle sensitive issues involving members.
