Nationwide — Dale Partridge, a white pastor from Prescott, Arizona, is facing backlash after claiming Black people were meant to live under the rule of other groups. His comments came during a sermon where he used a biblical passage to support his views on race and leadership.
He made the remarks while preaching at King’s Way Reformed Church as he discussed the story of Noah and his sons from Genesis 9, a passage that has often been debated over its interpretation.
According to Atlanta Black Star, the pastor claimed that African people and some people from India were descendants of Ham, one of Noah’s sons. He argued that God intended them to be led by groups he identified as descendants of Shem and Japheth, including white Europeans, Asians, Jews, and Arabs.
Partridge said society should return to European Christian colonization of African nations, describing it as a way to bring what he called “godly leadership” and the gospel. He said he was not promoting slavery or exploitation but argued that certain groups should provide leadership over others.
The pastor later continued sharing his views online. In one post, he compared criticism of former President George Washington’s political views to being labeled a Nazi and said non-white Americans could have citizenship with “biblical caveats.”
Partridge also posted about Christian marriage, saying wives should vote according to their husbands’ direction. His statements sparked strong reactions from people who rejected his views.
Critics said Partridge’s interpretation of scripture was inaccurate and used to promote racist ideas. Some pointed out that the biblical story involved Noah cursing Canaan, not Ham, and that the passage does not mention race or skin color.
Others condemned the pastor’s comments on social media, arguing that his interpretation misrepresented Christian teachings and promoted harmful views about race and equality.