By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
July 10, 2015

SHELBY – Born in Shelby, North Carolina, there is a new movement afoot. It started during the July 4^th weekend when two churches, Elizabeth Baptist Church and Focus Missionary Baptist Church, in a symbolic gesture that violates flag etiquette, decided to fly the Christian flag above the American flag on their churches’ flag poles.

Elizabeth Baptist pastor, Rit Varriale, said that he was already planning to launch the “God Before Government Movement,” when one day he noticed that Focus Missionary Baptist was flying their Christian flag above the American flag at their church. This prompted him to seek out the pastor, which led to the discovery that they had similar concerns for the country.

Focus Missionary Pastor Walter Wilson, who had been flying the Christian flag above the American flag for several weeks, said that one day while he was hoisting the flags, God’s Spirit spoke to him and said that He should always be put first. Read the rest of this entry »

By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
July 9, 2015

RALEIGH – According to the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), 14 of the state’s 672 magistrates have recused themselves from performing marriages, while the North Carolina Association of Register of Deeds states 5 register of deeds out of 100 counties have opted out of issuing and processing marriage licenses.

A new religious liberty law, SB 2 – Magistrates Recusal of Civil Ceremonies, which passed the North Carolina General Assembly over the Governor’s veto and took effect on June 11, makes the option possible for magistrates and register of deeds. The law declares magistrates and register of deeds that hold sincere religious objections to participating in a same-sex marriage ceremony may opt out.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Hunter Hines
Christian Action League
July 9, 2015

ABC Liquor Store, Snow Hill

RALEIGH – Friday, June 5^th, the Fayetteville Observer printed its editorial, “Our View: Why Is This State Still in the Liquor Business?”  The newspaper commended lawmakers in the North Carolina General Assembly for their recent approval of HB 909-ABC Omnibus Legislation.

The article referenced the most controversial section of the measure that permits the limited sales of liquor by distilleries directly to visitors of their establishments. The legislation, which is now law, allows for the sale of liquor outside of local ABC stores – something not permitted since the end of prohibition. But the point of the editorial was to say that the bill was too “timid” and the state should completely privatize the sale of spirits.

The editorial reads, “[O]ur lawmakers have adamantly supported the private sector and attacked local government attempts to enter the market. Yet they cling to an outmoded alcoholic-beverage retailing network that would better serve the consumer and the economy if it were privatized…Let’s get the government out of the booze business and let private business take it over. We’d like to raise a toast to that.” Read the rest of this entry »

Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
July 3, 2015

The Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of the Baptist State Convention encourages pastors and church leaders to make an intentional effort to read, pray and engage in matters of public policy in their communities.

Many communities across our state are wrestling with any number of matters that impact families, schools and sometimes even churches. Christians should not shy away from speaking into these debates and entering the public conversation.

Keeping up with the items on the agenda for a town council, county school board or county commissioners is often a straightforward process. Read the rest of this entry »

By Hunter Hines
Christian Action League
July 3, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Supreme Court has given new life to North Carolina’s ‘Choose Life’ specialty license plate.

The plate, which was approved by the North Carolina General Assembly (2011), was prohibited from being issued in a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (2012), and was upheld by a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4^th Circuit (2015). On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the lower court decision and ordered that the 4^th Circuit reconsider the case in light of the High Court’s decision in a similar case, Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

In the Walker case, SCOTUS ruled that Texas had the right to issue or not issue a license plate on the basis of whether it promoted a state interest because the license plates constituted government speech. More specifically, in Walker, Texas could decline to issue plates bearing a confederate flag because it contradicted the state’s public policy. Read the rest of this entry »

By Michael Gryboski
Christian Post
June 26, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court struck down four state constitutional amendments defining marriage as between one man and one woman in a landmark decision.

After years of refusing to take up the matter, the highest court in the land ruled 5-4 Friday in Obergefell v. Hodges that state-level gay marriage bans are unconstitutional, concluding that 14th Amendment requires a state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, reversing the ruling in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled such bans constitutional.

Chief Justice John Roberts was one of the dissenting judges, along with Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito. Read the rest of this entry »

By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
June 26, 2015

RALEIGH – Last week, as well as the first of this week, the Christian Action League informed its supporters that certain Republicans were aggressively seeking to bring up sweepstakes gambling legislation for consideration. Wednesday, Republicans caucused on the issue and decided against it.

Sweepstakes gaming essentially replaced video poker machines, which were banned in 2006. Hundreds of Sweepstakes parlors and cafes could be found in cities large and small throughout the state. Inside patrons would pay money for chances to win a prize by playing a casino-style game on a computer terminal that operated similar to a slot machine. Read the rest of this entry »

By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
June 26, 2015

RALEIGH – Wednesday, the North Carolina Senate took the final step to approve legislation that repeals a 145-year-old ban on Sunday hunting with firearms. The Senate passed HB 640 – Outdoor Heritage Act by a 33-15 vote.

Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League said in a statement released to the press that the Christian Action League opposed HB 640 from its inception, but he said the bill that passed was still something of a partial victory for the League’s efforts.

“Although the measure does allow Sunday hunting with a firearm,” he said, “it respects our churches, more specifically the rural churches it most likely affects, by prohibiting Sunday hunting from the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.” He added that, “[m]ost rural churches typically start at around 9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. and are finished by 12:00 noon. Read the rest of this entry »

Contact members of the NC House immediately!
By M.H. Cavanaugh
Christian Action League
June 19, 2015

RALEIGH – The rumor mill at the North Carolina General Assembly is saying certain House members are serious about reviving sweepstakes gambling. Republicans intend to caucus on the issue Tuesday of next week. Meanwhile, the Senate has included a provision in its proposed budget that would authorize a 50% increase in lottery advertising and introduce the sale of E-Instant lottery tickets online.

North Carolina banned sweepstakes gambling in 2007 and tweaked the ban in 2010. Only last month, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina struck an agreement with 5 sweepstakes companies not to prosecute them for their illegal activities, if they would no longer provide software to sweepstakes establishments in the state, and, if they ceased all activities by July 1, 2015. Last week, the State Supreme Court upheld the enforcement of the state’s ban on the sweepstakes industry, essentially killing it. Read the rest of this entry »

Convention approves resolutions addressing racism, marriage, religious liberty, abortion – leaders speak out with authority
By Pam Blume
Christian Action League
June 19, 2015

COLUMBUS – With the Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage expected at any time and after months of racial unrest across the nation, the issues of biblical morality, religious liberty, and racial reconciliation dominated the sermons and business proceedings of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The 5,400 messengers (representatives from Southern Baptist churches) met in Columbus, Ohio, June 16 and 17.

The business sessions of the convention deal in part with resolutions presented for the consideration of the messengers. This year the majority of resolutions dealt with pressing social and ethical issues and were passed by close to unanimous votes.

A resolution on racial reconciliation stated that, “…Racism is sin because it disregards the image of God in all people and denies the truth of the Gospel that believers are all one in Him;” and that Southern Baptists …”grieve over the continued presence of racism and the recent escalation of racial tension in our nation. …” The resolution further called on Southern Baptists “…to be faithful ambassadors of reconciliation in their personal relationships and local communities,” and to work toward achieving racial and ethnic diversity in church membership and leadership roles. Read the rest of this entry »