Southern Baptist Convention expels Oklahoma church after pastor defends performing in blackface while impersonating Ray Charles

The Southern Baptist Convention expelled a rural Oklahoma church from its membership Tuesday after resurfaced pictures and video show its pastor impersonating late singer Ray Charles in blackface at a talent show, according to a convention spokesperson.

The executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention - the nation's largest Protestant denomination - approved a lower committee's recommendation that the Matoaka Baptist Church in Ochelata, Oklahoma, be deemed "not in friendly cooperation" with the convention after the church failed to "cooperate in resolving concerns regarding discriminatory behavior on the basis of ethnicity," spokesperson Jon Wilke told CNN.

Matoaka Baptist's pastor, Sherman Jaquess, posted a video on his Facebook page in 2017 showing himself impersonating Charles - a legendary Black musician - at a talent show. Jaquess is dressed in full blackface during his performance, including a wig and dark makeup covering his face, neck and hands.

Blackface is a practice that began over 200 years ago when White performers painted their faces black using polish and cork, put on tattered clothing and exaggerated their features to mock Black people. The practice is widely considered racist and offensive.

The incident was highlighted in April by local activist Marq Lewis, who published screenshots of pictures from the talent show that had been posted on Matoaka Baptist's Facebook page in 2017.

As a result of the expulsion, the church will no longer be able to seat voting delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention or give donations through the organization's cooperative program, according to Wilke.

Jaquess told CNN he had "no comment," on his 2017 actions or the convention's decision.