Political, Pro-Bush North Carolina pastor Rev. Chan Chandler resigns

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7769149/

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - A Baptist preacher accused of running out nine congregants who refused to support President Bush resigned Tuesday.

“I am resigning with gratitude in my heart for all of you, particularly those of you who love me and my family,” the Rev. Chan Chandler said during a meeting at East Waynesville Baptist Church.

Congregants of the 100-member church in western North Carolina have said Chandler endorsed 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 ousted. Speaking from the pulpit Tuesday night, Chandler opened the meeting with prayer before telling the gathered congregation that, “For me to remain now would only cause more hurt for me and my family.”

[w13rd0]

1. See ya...

...maybe with humility, you can go plow a field and thank God He hasn't struck you down for politicizing His name.

What, is that too harsh? Ahhh, too bad...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. "It's all about ME!"

No mention of the people who he deeply hurt with his immoderation and apostasy. Figures.

[aquart]

3. Just a question...

What did that self-important, power-mad moron think he was doing? Does he have a job to go to/ Does his wife work? Did he trash their income for.......what????

[Freedom_from_Chains]

4. As I have successfully sown the seeds of discontent among you

my work here is done.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. you MUST MUST MUST read the opening post on this situation in this thread

It was written by a participant and DUer (chomskysright) and is wonderful and moving. it is not to be missed; it's long, but I recommend reading it in its entirety:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1775454
Thread title: "Waynesville, NC pastor resigns: the Tale of the Cuckoo Coup"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

6. Wow, an "eyewitness account"...that was pretty awesome.

The mainstream media is subliminally painting a picture of "he paid dearly for his beliefs"...the "innocent victim" scenario...not really grasping the ludicrous aspect of a pastor throwing people out of a church because they weren't "Pro-Bush."

Thanks for posting the link. When I posted my thread I did a search and nothing came up, so I wasn't sure if the resignation had been discussed yet.

Although DU is NOTORIOUSLY quick on news...I've had the intention of posting articles that were flagged "5 minutes ago" on Yahoo, only to see them on DU threads with a dozen replies...

And yes, as many people in the other thread state, chomskysright SHOULD fine-tune that piece and find a publisher. It's a story that needs to be told, and not entirely from the CNN / Fox / MSNBC perspective.

:toast:

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. I don't view this thread as a dupe - we need to get the "official" press

version and compare it with the eyewitness version. They are, as you point out, NOT the same at all.

This was obvious from the first. A DU eyewitness (may have been Chomskysright) gave an account early on in this travesty - before his resignation - that was quite different from what the NYT report said. The NYT was saying that the minister said it was "all a misunderstanding," but the DUer eyewitness account was very different. This was no misunderstanding, this was a cynical and ugly power grab. The thread about the "cuckoo coup" that I referred to upthread makes that beautifully clear in a way that "regular" people would relate to, I believe. I surely hope it is published. it needs to be seen.

And now good wishes for a pleasant night.
O8) :boring: O8)

[Erika]

7. I must warn you that the country is now full of these churches

Karl Rove and Bush gave them a sense of power to become cocky and theocratic and view anyone who didn't share that view as "evil". They can do as they wish politically as long as they forfeit their tax exemption. I see these theocrats as sickening and unAmerican. I'm glad the jerk left.

He hurt many parishioners of decades by dissing them, but his closing statement is his concern about he and his family? How Republican elitist!

[sundancekid]

9. self-centered, self-indulging, self-important: just like Jesus would be -

NOT! okay, no more :sarcasm:

jeepers, talk about giving pharisees in the temple a bad name!

[snowbear]

10. Reverend Al Sharpton should head there this Sunday

And Jesse Jackson too!

Let them run the show for a day!! :bounce:

[carnie_sf]

11. Ha ha

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

12. Kick for the morning crew n/t