Tarrant County church apologizes for comments made by Duggar family in-law during TX sermon

Officials at Fairpark Baptist Church in Edgecliff Village apologized for comments about slavery made by Mike Keller, a Duggar family in-law who gave a guest sermon at the church on June 25.

Keller told the congregation at the Tarrant County church that “God made slavery illegal” after Black people “turned from their wicked ways,” according to The Daily Beast.

“A hundred and fifty years ago, or 200 years ago, when the Blacks were slaves, did they ever go to Washington, D.C., and have a rally 200 years ago to protest slavery?” Keller said. “Did they? No. What did they do? Well, a lot of good people in the plantations would say, ‘Hey, it’s wintertime. Let us help build a church for you dear folks.’ And they loved them and taught them how to read and so they can read the Bible.”

Keller continued, “And here’s what the Blacks did about 150 years ago. They humbled themselves. They prayed. They sought God’s face and they turned from their wicked ways and God made slavery illegal through several white presidents, right? It worked, didn’t it? They didn’t protest.”

Keller is the father of Anna Duggar from the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting.” Duggar is married to Josh Duggar, who is currently in prison in Seagoville after being convicting of possessing child pornography.

An email statement Tuesday from the church’s media manager said Keller’s comments were “hurtful” and “reflected a misrepresentation of racial and historical issues.” They said they disagreed with Keller’s statements.

“Fairpark Baptist Church affirms that racism and slavery are wrong, sinful and violate the Scriptures,” the statement reads. “As a part of our faith we would never condone slavery, or tolerate any kind of prejudice against people of color. We seek to follow God’s words found in Romans 12:9: ‘Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.’ ”