Church supports HB2, plans major conference uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pastors from the Church of God in Christ made their position on the controversial House Bill 2 clear.

"Ever since there have been public bathrooms on earth, males went to one and females went to the other," said Church Bishop Patrick Wooden.

On Wednesday, the historic African American denomination, announced it was not moving its annual "aim" conference from charlotte.

The conference will be held next July at the convention center, drawing up to 30,000 people from around the world to Charlotte for a week.

It’s expected to generate 20 million dollars in local economic impact.

Bishop Michael Stevens said he's discouraged at the loss of the NBA All-Star game and other major events over HB2.

However, he hopes the stand his church is taking will help other groups consider bringing business to the state.

"We hope that it will encourage other organizations to come, make up that difference.  No one will disagree, we all want what's best for our city," Stevens said.

Church members called themselves supporters of conservative ideals and denied that HB2 discriminates when Channel 9 asked about opposing views on the controversial law.

"It’s not discriminatory at all. This is a common sense law, that's been misunderstood," Wooden said.

The Church of God in Christ has roughly 40 congregations in the Charlotte region, and boasts more than six million members worldwide.

Wooden urged businesses and other organizations not to bow to pressure to move or cancel events, but to support the state and its economy.

“We want the world to know that not everyone is running from this great state," he said.

Stevens said church members are not concerned about backlash or protests at their convention uptown next July.

Cox Media Group