Minister ex-communicates members for not backing Bush

[Vance]

Associated Press

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - The minister of a Haywood County Baptist church is telling members of his congregation that if they're Democrats, they either need to find another place of worship or support President Bush.

Already, the Reverend Chan Chandler has ex-communicated nine members of East Waynesville Baptist Church. Another 40 members have left in protest.

During last Sunday's sermon, he acknowledged that church members were upset because he named people, and he says he'll do it again because he has to according to the word of God.

Chandler could not be reached for comment today, but says his actions weren't politically motivated.

One former church member says Chandler told some of the members that if they didn't support George Bush, they needed to resign their positions and get out of the church, or go to the altar, repent and agree to vote for Bush.

A former church treasurer says she's at church to worship God and not the preacher.

Source: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/11582657.htm


Indeed. And oh, here's video for you to get a look (unfortunately no closed caption).

 

[The*Empress]

well that is his church, he can do whatever he wants to.

My preacher in Memphis hate gay people, he told everyone
that gay is wrong. He made joke about gay people and all.

He was also on a Christian TV program too...
telling the world that Gay is wrong.

And the Christians are following everything he said,
my family members and friends in California gave
good comment to my mom about the preacher.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

well that is his church, he can do whatever he wants to.

My preacher in Memphis hate gay people, he told everyone
that gay is wrong. He made joke about gay people and all.

He was also on a Christian TV program too...
telling the world that Gay is wrong.

And the Christians are following everything he said,
my family members and friends in California gave
good comment to my mom about the preacher.

No, Ms P, he can't. It's categorically wrong to tell someone they have to support a certain political candidate just because that's the candidate that particular church is supporting.

This is exactly why we should NOT mix church and state. Religion and politics should NOT be mixed. Period!

 

[Beowulf]

I knew this would happen eventually.
Ach.

 

[The*Empress]

Well Democrats try to get Blacks to vote for them.
And Rev. Jesse Jackson was trying to get Blacks to vote Democrats.
So Christians are voting Republicans.

I sorry if it is wrong, but we gotta accept that.

 

[Vance]

No, Ms P, he can't. It's categorically wrong to tell someone they have to support a certain political candidate just because that's the candidate that particular church is supporting.

This is exactly why we should NOT mix church and state. Religion and politics should NOT be mixed. Period!

Agreed. That's what I was (and still do) concerning about. It is unfortunate that some people didn't see that way.

Beowulf, hahaha, that's good one.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

Agreed. That's what I was (and still do) concerning about. It is unfortunate that some people didn't see that way.

Beowulf, hahaha, that's good one.

Each and every person has a right to support the candidate they feel is right for the job. I voted for Bush, and I'll freely admit that. I do not have a problem with someone just because they voted for a different candidate than I. It's not up to me to tell you who to vote for. That's for you to decide. It's also not up to anybody to do that, either. It just burns my butt when people try to tell others what to do.

Okay, Mag. You did it. You're to blame. You managed to find something to post that was gonna piss me off!

Oh, and btw...Thank you.

 

[Vance]

Hahaha, you are more than welcome!

But be sure to watch out for blood pressure

 

[netrox]

I am glad 30 left in protest. It's a real disgrace.

-jeff

 

[Nesmuth]

He can excommunicate all he likes as that will mean less money in his offering baskets. And that can open his ministry to a lot of interesting legal implications not excluding the one Jacko ended up in.

Richard

 

[jazzy]

I had a run in with my Catholic fellowers last year about Kerry, they said Kerry is bad Catholic and should not be voted. I guess any church has a way with people whom they should vote. That is why I want no part of any of them, mind controllers.

 

[Oceanbreeze]

He can excommunicate all he likes as that will mean less money in his offering baskets. And that can open his ministry to a lot of interesting legal implications not excluding the one Jacko ended up in.

Richard

This is true, so I guess the idiot is shooting himself in the foot by all that ex-communicating he's doing.

To that, I say, good!

 

[Reba]

Very bizarre.

Our pastor never asks members to which political party they belong.

Our Baptist church does not include ex-communication in its constitution because that is a Catholic procedure. If a member of our church commits a public sin and does not repent, then the member is voted out of the congregation by the other members. That only happens after the pastor and deacons have met with that member several times first to try to resolve the problem privately. If the member refuses, then it is brought to the congregation for a vote.

Our pastor is not allowed to ex-communicate anyone, ever.

That church is a strange situation.

 

[Vance]

Update

Church Split In North Carolina Shows Dangers Of Partisan Politics In Pulpit, Says Americans United

Church Electioneering Bill In Congress Would Invite More Disputes Over Politics In Houses Of Worship, Says AU's Lynn

A bitter controversy over partisan politics at a North Carolina church shows the danger of electioneering in the pulpit, according to Americans United of Separation of Church and State.

According to news media reports, the Rev. Chan Chandler of East Waynesville Baptist Church in Haywood County told members that they must vote for President George W. Bush. Nine members who did not do so have since been told to leave the congregation. An additional 40 members have reportedly left in protest.

“This is an outrage,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Houses of worship exist to bring people together for worship, not split them apart over partisan politics.

“I think there is an important lesson here for the whole country,” Lynn continued. “Americans do not expect to be ordered to vote for certain candidates by their religious leaders.”

Religious Right groups have been pressing evangelical churches to get deeply involved in partisan politics, Lynn said, and this kind of controversy is the natural outcome.

Lynn said matters will become even worse if a bill now pending in Congress becomes federal law.

H.R. 235, a measure introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), would allow clergy to endorse candidates from the pulpit and still retain a tax exemption of their house of worship.

“Introducing partisan politics into our churches is a terrible idea,” said AU’s Lynn. “I hope this incident in North Carolina will cause our members of Congress to reject Rep. Jones’ bill.”

Source: http://www.au.org/site/News2?JServS...ticle&id=7353&security=1002&news_iv_ctrl=1241


Scary, eh?

Edit: It appears that they are planning to do that from the start. More information about this H.R. 235: http://www.hr235.org/. Here's two nice verses about these people...

"Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries [a] and the delusions of their own minds."
JERIMIAH 14:14

And...

""Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
MATTHEW 7:15

 

[Reba]

...H.R. 235, a measure introduced by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), would allow clergy to endorse candidates from the pulpit and still retain a tax exemption of their house of worship.

“Introducing partisan politics into our churches is a terrible idea,” said AU’s Lynn. “I hope this incident in North Carolina will cause our members of Congress to reject Rep. Jones’ bill.”

Scary, eh?...

I don't know what is so new about it. Black churches have been endorsing Democrat candidates from their pulpits for many years. Nobody made a stink about that.

 

[Beowulf]

That is a breathtakingly racist thing to say, Reba.
You show your true colors here.
They should make a stink about it?
The Republican party has worked hard to disenfranchise the black votes.
They succeeded.
They should NOT make a stink about it?

 

[harleymn]

yeah

do you believe magastu only on one source nah not me i would investigate more than one source before i believe anything
:sure:

 

[Banjo]

do you believe magastu only on one source nah not me i would investigate more than one source before i believe anything
:sure:

Typical response, anything that reek of liberalism is to be rejected according to you.

 

[Vance]

do you believe magastu only on one source nah not me i would investigate more than one source before i believe anything
:sure:

Typical comment from a americanized conservative. Reality check for you: http://www.hr235.org/ -- it is a conservative/Religious Right site. I gather that is quite annoying when you put your foot in your mouth, no? *set the ignore feature back*

Typical response, anything that reek of liberalism is to be rejected according to you.

Indeed. No matter how many sources I will post, it does not mean anything to them. No matter what is wrong or what is right, all it does matter to them is their own beliefs. [add] I posted few links from conservative sites concerning about Iraq at Freeper site one or two weeks ago and guess what? They banned me for it & deleted my posts faster than I can blink. Even if it is from conservative site, they don't give any damn but only their beliefs. [/add]

Before everyone else can jump over all on me about my comment, I 'evolved' into semi-conservative and semi-liberal when I read a lot.. real lots of books & articles about conservatism and liberalism. In other words, I am not 'stuck' in blackhole by my beliefs like some people. So get off my back.

I don't know what is so new about it. Black churches have been endorsing Democrat candidates from their pulpits for many years. Nobody made a stink about that.

Can you post the link or something, I'd like to read about that one. But if they actually endorsed Democrat candidates, I believe they will lose a tax exemption. And I don't think they would kick the republicans out like what Baptist Church in NC did. Or unless, you have some proofs that say otherwise? I am not challenging you but I'd like to read and see for myself.

 

[Reba]

That is a breathtakingly racist thing to say, Reba.
You show your true colors here.
They should make a stink about it?
The Republican party has worked hard to disenfranchise the black votes.
They succeeded.
They should NOT make a stink about it?

How is that racist? That was a political statement about the Democrats. It is obvious that people get all worked up about pastors making partisan political statements from the pulpit only if it is conservative. Politicking for liberal candidates is overlooked. The rules should be the same for all churches.

If only you really knew how "un-racist" I truly am. I have actively supported equal civil rights for all races longer than most ADers have been alive, ha, ha.