The Strain in Plains

There were two worship services for the white Baptists of Plains, Ga., last week. One group met as usual at the Plains Baptist Church, made famous in Jimmy Carter's presidential race, while a group that has forsaken Plains Baptist gathered at a little-used Lutheran church five miles out of town. After Sunday-school classes on the lawn and in the woods, 30 dissidents heard Sumter County Agent Tim Lawson, their chief organizer, announce that the Rev. Fred Collins of nearby Camilla had agreed to be pastor of the fledgling Bottsford Baptist Mission. Collins, 34, left Plains Baptist in frustration three years ago.

There was another important announcement. Hugh Carter, state senator and cousin of the President, came up to lead in prayer and declared that he had just resigned after 31 years as a deacon and 28 years as church clerk at Plains Baptist. The new mission would have his "complete dedication," he said. Like other local families, the Carter clan is divided over what to do. So far the other Carters are sticking with the family church, and President Carter, who has officially transferred to a Washington church, is expected to attend Plains Baptist when he is in town.

After the service. Cousin Hugh spoke harshly about the people running Plains Baptist. He described them as "anti-Carter, anti-black and full of hate." A woman who played piano for the Bottsford service was more benign. Said she: "I have no animosity toward anyone in the other church. I pray for them, and I pray for us."

The divisions in the Plains Baptist Church became critical when black Preacher Clennon King challenged its whites-only membership policy late in the presidential campaign. When the deacons panicked and canceled services the Sunday before Election Day, Pastor Bruce Edwards told reporters that the eleven-year-old policy was "immoral and sinful" and that deacons routinely used the term niggers. At President-elect Carter's urging, the church later voted reluctantly to admit blacks. But an Old South faction, which disliked both Edwards' remarks and the fact that he had adopted a Polynesian boy, maneuvered to fire the pastor. Edwards quit instead. The situation deteriorated until those who oppose the old guard and favor moderate racial views started worshiping by themselves last month. After a farewell sermon before the dissident Baptists this week, Edwards will fly to his new church in Makakilo, Hawaii.

The situation in Plains now is that the main church, which is looking for a new pastor, has voted to admit blacks but does not really want any. The dissident church, which says it would welcome blacks, does not so far have any.

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