Historic Baptist Church Destroyed By Explosion And Fire

A historic brick Baptist church, the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, which serves mainly a Portland, Oregon congregation of African-Americans was destroyed by an explosion followed by fire.

Neighbors first heard a loud explosion followed by fire, leading fire investigators towards suspecting some possibility of arson or even a hate crime. But fire investigators cannot rule anything in or out, including old wiring or accicdental causes until they can carefully examine the wreckage of the building. Right now the building is way too unsafe for this fire investigation.

The sound of an explosion was considered to be highly suspect though, and not thought of as normal for a fire. The local community would certainly like to see this investigation proceed and find the cause of this destruction to this very old and historic building. So far no similiar copycat events have taken place, which may indicate either an isolated incident or accidental causes.

But the last thing the religious community needs is a new series of attacks on places of worship such as has taken place in the past. Racially moltivated crimes against African-American churches have included bombings and arsons in incicdents ranging from the 1960's until only a few years ago. Billy Graham once referred to the hour spent in church as the "most segregated" hour before because of sharp seperations between White and African-American houses of worship.