CNN plays audio of NC Church's anti-Kerry election sermon - (VIDEO)

[dzika]

May 9, 2005

Video - CNN plays audio of NC Church's anti-Kerry election sermon

CNN plays a tape of the pre-election sermon given by Rev. Chan Chandler of East Waynesville Baptist in Western North Carolina.

The following quote is taken from the sermon: "The question then comes in the Baptist Church, how do I vote? Let me just say this right now. If you vote for John Kerry this year, you need to repent or resign. You have been holding back God's church way too long. And I know I may get in trouble for saying that, but just pour it on."

In the longer version of the video, Bill Hemmer "talks down" to an expelled church member during an interview.



Short Video in Real Media format (1 minute)

Longer Video in Real Media format (4 minutes)

May, 5, 2005

DemocracyNOW! - The Christian Right and the Rising Power of the Evangelical Political Movement

For some more information about how this ultra-right-wing faction has taken over the leadership of the Southern Baptist Churches, consider this interview from last Thursday's edition of DemocracyNOW!


REV. JOSEPH PHELPS: ...Ostensibly the issue was the Bible, but the real issue was control: who gets to decide how the Bible's interpreted, whether women could be ministers, what the agenda of the Church will be. And slowly, but effectively, they took over the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention. As a result, we're able to appoint trustees, who then appointed Dr. Mohler as president, who completely cleaned house at the seminary. Southern Seminary used to be one of the top ten theological institutions in the world. All of those professors have now been fired or forced out, and --

(...)

REV. JOSEPH PHELPS: Just on theological grounds, on the grounds that they weren't conforming to the strict literal in their interpretation of the Bible, as is prescribed by Dr. Mohler and the new takeover group. The reason this is important, I think, to your larger audience, as I said earlier, is because this group's agenda now bleeds over, not only into beyond the issue of the Southern Baptist Convention, to our larger culture. That same kind of domination agenda -- which says we're right, you're wrong; we're going to save you from yourself by telling you not only what the Bible says, but now what the Constitution says -- has enormous implications for our democracy.

Read, watch or listen to the entire interview here

[usregimechange]

1. If the Church is tax exempt, is this legal?

If it isn't legal how does such a law get enforced? Who would pull their tax exempt status? How?

[dzika]

2. Jerry Meek (NC Dem Party Chair) Responds to Waynesville Church fiasco

I'm hoping that this guy will press the issue in North Carolina:

Jerry Meek (NC Dem Party Chair) Responds to Waynesville Church fiasco

North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek sharply criticized the pastor Friday, saying Chandler jeopardized his church's tax-free status by openly supporting a candidate for president.

"If these reports are true, this minister is not only acting extremely inappropriately by injecting partisan politics into a house of worship, but he is also potentially breaking the law," Meek said.

[jojo54]

3. How dare this man?!?!?!

"J.K. voters need to repent or resign. You have been holding back god's church way too long"???? :wtf:

Then he had the b_lls to say "bring it on" if he gets in trouble for saying this???? :wtf:

He needs to have his tax exemption revoked for this. This is as explosive as the evolution controversy in some public schools. These religious r.w.er's are really pushing the envelope and one day it's gonna backfire in their faces.

[Mass]

4. But Kerry is the devil

You people have been saying that all this week-end long. So if he is the devil, why should people not be thrown out of their church.

:sarcasm:

[rndmprsn]

5. hey i saw the DU member briefly in the long viddy...

he posted here earlier that he went to the church and wore a sign saying...who would jesus exclude?

good job!

[izzybeans]

6. Bill Hemer is a f'ing jackass. He grilled an old man who just

wants to go back to his church. Crass attempts at explaining it all away. Those republicans that walked out got tossed as well and Hemmer pretends to believe that this makes it a non-political act.

Fuck that guy.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. What is Hemmer saying about people who voted for Bush

That statement that he's "heard" some people who voted for Bush have been kicked out and asking, "Is that true?" The congregant said yes.

That's the first I've heard of that one. So what were the Bush voters kicked out for?

No doubt this is going to get picked over and spun like a whirling dervish, so I've been trying to keep an eye on the language...that will be what the Cons will use to defend this 'leader'. With that in mind, in the taped sermon the minister said "If you vote for John Kerry this year..." So, technically, he did not tell them to vote for Bush. He did, in no uncertain terms, state that there would be consequences if one voted for John Kerry. This gives a pass for Bush and Bush supporters. Once again, a clean attack on the Democrats. Sad, very, very sad.

[libnnc]

8. don't let this get spun

Remember, from the beginning, these congregants have argued that they don't want their church to be "political"--Asshat Chandler does. This isn't necessarily a Dem vs. Rep. thing. Hemmer tried to spin it as "hmmm, this is non-partisan...so what?" The "So What?" is that these folks don't want a minister telling them who to vote for PERIOD.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. Exactly! And also to that point...

"these folks don't want a minister telling them who to vote for PERIOD."

I would add 'who to vote or NOT to vote for PERIOD.'