Baptist Minister Ex-communicates Members For Not Backing Bush

[MrsSpringsteen]

I saw this on the news last night, they actually have him on tape saying this part 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.

The 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.

 

[BVS]

Jackass. The thieves of faith.

 

[U2democrat]

some christian

 

[verte76]

This guy is just a control freak. He's a hijacker in a big way.

 

[Se7en]

organized religion

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

This doesn't mean all organized religion is bad I can assure you, no Priest at my church has ever said or done anything like this. I don't think it's fair to condemn all organized religion because of a few fanatics.

 

[Se7en]

i disagree with organized religion for a lot of reasons and generally find it to be a bad thing. this is a good example of someone abusing spiritual authority for personal gain. you'll find abuse like this in almost any power structure and not necessarily from just a few fanatics.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

well that's your viewpoint, I respect it

 

[nbcrusader]

I believe Chandler has already backed away from his statements.

What a waste....

 

[BVS]

I believe Chandler has already backed away from his statements.

What a waste....

But it's sad because the damage has already been done.

You're right, what a waste.

 

[coemgen]

This is probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

 

[melon]

I saw this on the news last night, they actually have him on tape saying this part 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.

The Catholic Church pretty much all but said that here in the U.S. during the 2004 Election. Bastards.

Melon

 

[Irvine511]

churches can do whatever they want.

they can also lose their tax-exempt status.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Re: Re: Baptist Minister Ex-communicates Members For Not Backing Bush

The Catholic Church pretty much all but said that here in the U.S. during the 2004 Election. Bastards.

Did "the church" really say that? No offense Melon, by now I see where you're coming from

 

[deep]

Ratzinger said politicians that do not support pro-life are to be denied communion. He tried to enfluence the U. S. election.

Not parishioners,
or politicians that support capital punishment or unjust wars.

This targeted Kerry and pro-choice candidates in battleground states.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

well Ratzinger, I don't give a Ratz ---what he said that's not technically the same as ex-communication, but it is just as bad w/ out a doubt

I wore my Kerry button to Mass, and I haven't been ex-communicated yet..

 

[Maggie1]

i disagree with organized religion for a lot of reasons and generally find it to be a bad thing. this is a good example of someone abusing spiritual authority for personal gain. you'll find abuse like this in almost any power structure and not necessarily from just a few fanatics.

Well said!

 

[verte76]

Re: Re: Baptist Minister Ex-communicates Members For Not Backing Bush

The Catholic Church pretty much all but said that here in the U.S. during the 2004 Election. Bastards.

Melon

No one told me to vote for Bush during the campaign. But, I did see many Bush buttons at church and I don't think I saw a single Kerry button.

 

[A_Wanderer]

Hmm, I wonder when he is getting his check from Rove and the ZOG, im stil waiting for mine.

 

[deep]

it is being quieting deposited into your "personal retirement" account

 

[BonosSaint]

As far as I'm concerned, tax the churches. They're overstepping.

 

[BonosSaint]

Not all of them.

 

[indra]

As far as I'm concerned, tax the churches. They're overstepping.

I think churches should be taxed. They are businesses.

And the guy in the quoted story is a fool.

 

[Macfistowannabe]

I think churches should be taxed. They are businesses.

Last time I checked, pastors and priests weren't paid a whole lot.

As far as the story goes, I think the minister is forgetting that a church is supposed to be about praising God, not Bush. The government doesn't really need to intervene, I'm sure the ex-communicated will find a more welcoming church that is worth their time.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

WAYNESVILLE, North Carolina (AP) -- A Baptist preacher accused of running out nine congregants who disagreed with his Republican politics resigned Tuesday, two days after calling the issue "a great misunderstanding."

Speaking from the pulpit during a meeting at East Waynesville Baptist Church, the Rev. Chan Chandler told church members that it would "cause more hurt for me and my family" if he stayed.

"I am resigning with gratitude in my heart for all of you, particularly those of you who love me and my family," Chandler said, adding that the dispute was rooted in his strong feelings about abortion.

Chandler's attorney, John Pavey Jr., said the pastor has not apologized for anything he said and would continue to speak out against abortion. He said the dispute inside the church had nothing to do with politics, a contention echoed Tuesday by Chandler's supporters.

"I don't believe he preached politics," church member Rhonda Trantham said. "I don't believe anyone should tell a preacher not to preach what's in the Bible."

But some congregants of the 100-member church in western North Carolina have said Chandler endorsed President Bush from the pulpit during last year's presidential campaign and said that anyone who planned to vote for Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry needed to "repent or resign."

The church members said he continued to preach about politics after Bush won re-election, culminating with a church gathering last week in which the nine members said they were voted out.

At Sunday's service, the 33-year-old Chandler said the flap over the church members' dismissal was "a great misunderstanding" and he tried to welcome them back.

"No one has ever been voted from the membership of this church due to an individual's support or lack of support for a political party or candidate," he said in a statement.

Blount Osborne, chairman of the church's elected deacons, said there was no warning Chandler would resign and the church had no severance agreement with him.

"That was surprising, him leaving as quick as he did. I didn't figure he'd walk that way," Osborne said.

Several church members said they agreed with Chandler on issues like abortion, but objected to him making those issues explicitly political in the church.

"I think everyone in there agrees with him on the issues. Politics was the problem," Carolyn Gaddy said.

 

[BVS]

WAYNESVILLE, North Carolina (AP) -- A Baptist preacher accused of running out nine congregants who disagreed with his Republican politics resigned Tuesday

 

[verte76]

 

[melon]

Last time I checked, pastors and priests weren't paid a whole lot.

Yeah, well, neither are the rest of us, but we survive our tax paying.

Of course, then there's that megachurch in Texas with a $25 million annual budget.

Melon

 

[Macfistowannabe]

It all depends on the size of the church. I honestly don't think pastors and priests went into the profession for the big bucks.

 

[BVS]

It all depends on the size of the church. I honestly don't think pastors and priests went into the profession for the big bucks.

That also goes for a lot of other people.