By Andre A. Rodriguez
STAFF WRITER
published: May 9, 2005 2:15 pm
WAYNESVILLE – The turmoil embroiling East Waynesville Baptist Church and Pastor Chan Chandler is drawing national attention from religious and political groups.
Last October Chandler told those in his congregation “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.”
Nine members of East Waynesville say they had their membership revoked last week and 40 others left in protest after tension over political views came to a head, church members say. “Our memberships were terminated because we did not agree to have a political church,” said Thelma Lowe, the lone Republican voted out. “I did not vote for Kerry.”
One of the first to speak out was Ralph G. Neas, president of the liberal People For the American Way Foundation.
“What have we come to when the doors of a church are closed to longtime members because of their political beliefs?” he said. “This nation was founded on respect for religious belief, and tolerance for religious diversity. Men and women of faith have every right to advocate for their political beliefs. While churches, of course, can set their own membership standards, no one should punish people of faith for their political beliefs.”
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said religious right groups have been pressing evangelical churches to get deeply involved in partisan politics and this kind of controversy is the natural outcome.
“This is an outrage,” he said. “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.”
Closer to home, Jim Royston, executive director and treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, called the action “highly irregular” in a statement on the convention’s Web site. East Waynesville is a member of the convention and contributes financially to the organization’s mission efforts. The convention has no roll in decision making at local churches.
George Bullard, the convention’s second in command, said if a church’s bylaws allow for a pastor to establish who can be members, he has every right to exclude some.
“Membership is a local church issue,” he said. “It is not something the state convention would enter into.”
Royston did say that a position as the one Chandler is reported to have taken could threaten a church’s tax-exempt status because it could be interpreted as stepping into political advocacy, an action prohibited by Internal Revenue Service rules.
On Sunday, the pastor released a written statement through his attorney, John J. Pavey Jr., following Sunday’s worship service that read, “The goal of East Waynesville Baptist Church is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.
“This church fellowships openly with all who embrace the authority and application of the Bible regardless of political affiliation, including current members who align themselves with both major political parties, as well as those who affiliate with no political party.
“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.
“All matters of the church are internal in nature and are resolved accordingly.”
Chandler also announced there would be a business meeting Tuesday night, which will be open to all church members, “including anyone who was at Monday’s meeting.” He did not specify what the meeting would be about, but members speculate it is an attempt to calm the situation.
The estranged members said they were unsure whether they would be at the meeting until they met with their attorney.
