A Georgia church has been accused of getting rid of a female parishioner because the woman was not paying tithes.

First African Baptist Church, located in Bainbridge, allegedly booted longtime member Josephine King, WALB reported this week.

King, who is 92 years old, spent over five decades as one of the church's members, according to the local news station.

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Member: First African Baptist Church, located in Bainbridge, allegedly booted longtime member Josephine King, pictured left and right

Document: King reportedly received a 'Letter of Removal' from her longtime church

What is a tithe? According to Merriam-Webster, the word means 'to pay or give a tenth part of especially for the support of the church.' The practice goes back hundreds of years, and was frequently employed during the Middle Ages. Advertisement

According to WALB-TV, the church sent Josephine King, who attended the church for five decades, a letter saying she 'is no longer considered a member' because she 'has shown non-support' financially.

The letter was signed by Derrick Mike, the church's senior pastor.

King's nephew Gerald Simmons told WALB: 'She was stunned. She was disappointed. She was shocked.'

Simmons told the news outlet his aunt had not been going to church because she had been ill.

He told WALB: 'You have to have money to make these churches run, but it's not about money.

'It's about God. You have to put God first.'

King 'has shown non-support' when it comes to 'constant and consistent financial and physical participation,' a letter from the church obtained by the local news station reportedly said.

Simmons told WABL: 'You shouldn't chase the individuals down. You shouldn't do that.

'If that's the case, you're money hungry.'

No one answered at a phone number First African Baptist Church listed on its website.

The church did not immediately reply to an email message from Dailymail.com seeking comment, either.

Booted? The letter that appeared on local media was reportedly signed by the senior pastor at the church