South Carolina Ping
Posted on 10/11/2005 11:27:02 AM PDT by Between the Lines
The Exodus is off to a slow start.
Christian Exodus, a Texas-based group, has a goal of moving up to 12,000 conservative Christians to South Carolina to establish a government formed strictly on the Constitution and biblical principles.
So far, only five families have made the move, all to the Upstate. But organizers hope to increase that number significantly after holding a three-day planning meeting beginning Friday in Greenville.
The meeting will be the first extended chance for the public to listen to Christian Exodus members discuss their political philosophies and outline their plan for moving people to the state.
The most controversial part of that plan has been the group's documented intent to secede from the United States if it is unable to pursue its aims within the boundaries of the U.S. government.
Arthur Bryngelson, chairman of the Dorchester County Republican Party, is listed as one of the conference speakers and "the first political candidate Christian Exodus will endorse."
Bryngelson, who lives in the rural Givhans community, said he supports the idea of government based on Judeo-Christian principles. However, he is not in favor of radical ideas such as secession.
"I think what they (Christian Exodus) want to do is congregate as Christians to bring about change," Bryngelson said. "I'm in favor of Christians as a group trying to change things. And I appreciate that these people are paying attention to us. I think they'll find South Carolina is already a very conservative and Christian place as it is."
The leader of the group is 29-year-old Cory Burnell, a businessman from California who has previous ties in Texas with League of the South, the largest secessionist group in the country. Burnell no longer belongs to the group, he said.
Since founding Christian Exodus, however, Burnell has stressed that his main goal is to bring back limited government based on Judeo-Christian principles.
"Christian Exodus doesn't seek to institute a theocracy, but we do want a return of our religious liberties that were once so preciously guarded in America," Burnell wrote in a statement explaining the group's purpose.
The main sources of information for the movement are two Web sites, www.ChristianExodus.org and www.ChristianExodus.com. The sites offer everything from descriptions of the group's philosophies to message forums where members discuss the way of life in South Carolina, political strategies and the group's plan of action.
The Web sites have generated thousands of hits, but only about 900 people are registered as full members of the group.
In other forums, prominent institutions such as Bob Jones University, the South Carolina Baptist Convention and the governor’s office have declined to endorse the group's mission.
But Steve Lefemine, a representative of South Carolina Christians for Life, said when the group first formed that his organization would support anyone trying to bring Christianity back into public government.
One politician is denying any ties to the group. U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado plans to speak at Greenville Tech about immigration issues while Christian Exodus is gathering elsewhere in Greenville.
Burnell said his group changed the time for its event so attendees could hear Tancredo’s speech. But a Tancredo spokesman called it a coincidence and said the congressman is not connected to the group.
The Web sites indicate that while many are interested in checking out the group's ideas, not many people have come out as full supporters.
Under a section called "Christian Exodus Yellow Pages," a few dozen businesses and individuals have registered their names. One is a Michigan-based insurance adjuster. Another is a Coldwell Banker Realtor, Richard Bonnett, who has offices in Lexington. Efforts to reach Bonnett were unsuccessful.
One South Carolina church, South Point Baptist in the Upstate town of Pelzer, is listed as a main contact for Christian Exodus. Efforts to reach the church's pastor, the Rev. Tony Romo, also were unsuccessful.
Bryngelson said he plans to run for Dorchester County Council in 2006 as a Republican. He is traveling to Greenville next weekend, he said, mainly to help Christian Exodus members and their supporters learn more about South Carolina.
"My main concern is I want these folks to understand we’re not a radical state. I live as a Southerner, and I love my state and have no intention of watching anyone else fire on Fort Sumter again."
Other stories about Christian Exodus:
Christian Exodus national conference to be held in Greenville, SC
Christian separatists promote Tancredo speech
Colorado Rep. disavows ties to SC Christian separatist group
One of their Reps was on H&C and he said they were getting quite a few e-mails from Liberals virtually volunteering to help them pack. In any case this isn't all that different from what the Mormons have going in Utah is it?
Just remember what happened the last time a stae wanted to secede from the union...
Or the liberals in large cities. Or the gays in tourist cities.
They need to move to an island and start the govt. The civil war was fought to prevent any secession by any group.
Hmmmmm. I thought the Free Staters wanted to do the same. Wonder why they didn't hook up and choose the same state?
2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!
She has become a home for demons
and a haunt for every evil spirit,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her
excessive luxuries."
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
Sounds like the pre-cursor of some strange cult...
Aren't the Free Staters Libertarians? They wouldn't get along too well with Fundamentalists.
The philosophy behind it is really not very much like the philosophy of Chrisitianity. Jesus told his followers to go where the sinners are. Christians gathering together in SC to segregate themselves from the rest of the world is not what Christ had in mind.
They do but I don't think they would agree with this group. Either way it's promising news there's more than one group
Sorry for the duplicate replies. FR is kinda funky today.
"In any case this isn't all that different from what the Mormons have going in Utah is it?"
I thought it was like the Jews moving from Gaza to the main part of Israel, God Bless them.
That passage is about the Catholic Church. God calls it "adultery" because the church used to be married to her, but she like the power of politics better. The Vatican is a wordly State.
I should have prefaced my comment with the passage I was referring to:
Revelation 18
2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!
She has become a home for demons
and a haunt for every evil spirit,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her
excessive luxuries."
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
That passage is about the Catholic Church. God calls it "adultery" because the church used to be married to her, but she liked the power of politics better. The Vatican is a wordly State.
I thought the Civil War was fought over states rights. In any case, as a South Carolinian, I would welcome any new comers who are willing to promote and protect the proud heritage South Carolina has had for so long.
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