Sunday services at the Rappahannock Indian Baptist Church in Virginia turned into a debate over race, The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

Recently, a tribal member and her African-American husband were allegedly refused membership to the church. Lori Battle said was told she shouldn't have married outside of her race.

On Sunday, a non-Indian couple sought to gain membership. That led to some rather emotional outbursts, the paper reported, including from the Rappahannock tribal chief. Some contend the church is opposing entry to some people so that the Rappahannock Tribe can make its case for federal recognition, a charge chief G. Anne Richardson denies.

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A church divided against itself (The Richmond Times-Dispatch 4/5)

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