MONROE, N.C. — For the second consecutive Sunday, community members from all around Union County voiced their concerns about Bible Baptist Tabernacle following controversial comments made by the pastor.
Several signs, community members, and voices were outside the church preaching their frustration toward the church and Pastor Bobby Leonard.
“I'm appalled and indignant,” Rebecca Frick said.
Leonard said during a sermon that women make themselves targets for sexual assault based on how they dress. He said he wouldn't vote to convict a man who's accused of raping a woman if she wore shorts.
“We don't like [what he said]," Sanders said. "We're done with it. So he needs to be gone.”
Some say the incident has questioned their views on the church.
“It's kind of hard to view [the church]," Ben Rudy said. "Things are going on in so many different directions. It's a catastrophe right now in my eyes.”
Protesters' concerns are now stretching beyond the church to the Tabernacle Christian School.
Records from the NC Education Assistance Authority show that Tabernacle Christian received over $900,000 in both 2023 and 2024 in public taxpayer funds through a state voucher program.
Callie Price isn't pleased with where the funds are going.
“Why should our money go into this school?" Callie Price asked. "This church that preaches this message, and is not protecting women and children, and is promoting rape culture, and it's just something we've got to stand up against in this community."
People throughout Union County are calling for action and are prepared to keep pressing the issue until something is done.
“We need accountability for this man and leadership and these people in leadership for these statements," Price said. "They need to be held accountable.”
“I want to take our tax dollar dollars out of this school because I'm not paying for a school that has an environment for rapists and sexual assault,” Sanders said.