The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, April 9, 1996                 TAG: 9604090005
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   22 lines

OFF-TRACK CHURCH

I was very surprised by the report ``Church won't marry bi-racial pair'' (news, April 3). What right does Deacon Logan Lewis have to determine the couple not be married because they have no ``repentance in their hearts''?

Repentance for what? For being in love with a person who happens to be of a different race? If I remember correctly, Jesus said to love thy neighbor as thyself. Perhaps Deacon Lewis and the other deacons of this behind-the-times church should review their Bibles.

KELLIE McNEIL

Virginia Beach, April 3, 1996 by CNB