Christian Exodus

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Christian Exodus

Christian Exodus is a Christian secessionist group promoting a mass emigration of fundamentalist Christians to South Carolina with the goal of influencing the governmental process in the state. It has announced intentions to move people to selected cities and counties of South Carolina in stages, with each stage timed to influence a particular election cycle. The group has the stated goal of relocating more than 50,000 people. The first city in South Carolina targeted is Anderson, South Carolina.[1] The group claims that some 15 families are already in Anderson, South Carolina, ready for the full Exodus. In addition to South Carolina, the group announced in the Fall of 2007 that Christian Exodus supporters would also settle in Gem County, Idaho. [2].

The logo of Christan Exodus incorporates the Protestant Christian Flag created in 1897 by Rev. Charles Overton.

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[edit] Beliefs

According to their literature, Christian Exodus believes that the United States has strayed from its founding vision, and they refer to their program as restoring the nation to its Puritan roots. The group's mission statement reads:

"ChristianExodus.org is an association of Christians who no longer wish to live under the unjust usurpation of powers by the federal government, and therefore resolves to formally disassociate itself from this tyrannical authority, and return to the model of governance of a constitutional republic. We seek a republican government constrained by constitutionally delegated powers. If this cannot be achieved within the United States, then we believe a peaceful withdrawal from the union to be the last available remedy."[3]

In particular, they focus on the following areas of concern, which would generally be classified as ultraconservative:

  • To oppose the increasing acceptance of homosexuality, and especially of civil unions or outright gay marriage. The group maintains that, "...sexual conduct outside the bonds of marriage is not a God-given right. Therefore, homosexual activity is a behavior that a state may regulate and legislate against."
  • To abolish public funding for education, and to protect homeschooling. The group "...prefers the privatization of education whether in the form of private schools or home schooling because public administration is far less efficient and immorally taxes citizens not receiving the service paid for."
  • To repeal State and Federal laws that they believe violate the right to keep and bear arms.
  • To repeal court rulings that they feel abuse the power of eminent domain, and that they fear will lead to arbitrary seizure.
  • They fear laws will soon be passed defining the practice of Christianity as a hate crime.
  • They feel the rights of fathers are not upheld in child custody cases.
  • They advocate the repeal of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments, which abolished slavery, made former slaves citizens and gave them the right to vote. Christian Exodus says "We hold that it is the obligation of the various States to nullify this Amendment and all laws and court rulings arising from it."
  • They advocate repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which permits the taxation of all forms of income by the Federal Government.
  • They advocate repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment, which requires popular election of Senators.
  • They advocate that the states should have power to prohibit the immigration and/or naturalization of such persons as each sees fit to exclude as was originally the case in America.

Christian Exodus has not ruled out seceding from the United States. South Carolina was picked because the group believes that it has a high chance of seceding again due to the fact that it was listed in the Treaty of Paris as a sovereign nation, and because it was the first state to secede from the United States at the onset of the American Civil War. In the former respect, however, South Carolina is not unique: all thirteen colonies were individually named as independent states in Article I of the treaty. (See also Republic of Hawaii, Republic of Texas, Republic of Vermont and Bear Flag Republic (California)). Furthermore, the ratifications of the U.S. Constitution by New York, Rhode Island and Virginia all retained the right of those states to leave the union of their own free will, and these ratifications were accepted in their entirety by the other states.

[edit] History and affiliations

Christian Exodus was modeled after the Free State Project, a libertarian group that aims to relocate libertarians to New Hampshire. Christian Exodus' founding documents contained language very similar to that in the Free State Project's Statement of Intent and Participation Guidelines, but founder Cory Burnell has aimed recruiting at an ideologically different segment of the population.

Throughout 2004 Christian Exodus worked closely with the League of the South to build support in South Carolina,[4] but in recent years has distanced itself publicly from the League. A 2006 goal to relocate 12,000 individuals to South Carolina was not met. To date the group claims that only about 15 families have relocated to South Carolina. Founder Cory Burnell still resides in California despite his own earlier efforts to relocate.[5]

In late 2007 the group announced that a separate contingent in Idaho had been founded.[6] According to reports the group is made up of several families already settled in Gem County, Idaho who share the original view of Christian Exodus, but are unwilling to relocate to South Carolina. The group is led by Paul Smith, an active member of the Constitution Party of Idaho and former Congressional candidate.[7]

Christian Exodus and the Constitution Party have co-authored a website called "Save America Summit"[8] which promotes Constitution Party Presidential candidates and Christian Separatist ideology.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Christian Exodus targets Anderson County
  2. ^ Christian Exodus leader says group expanding to Idaho community
  3. ^ Christian Exodus Position Statement
  4. ^ Group promotes secession from U.S.
  5. ^ Christian Exodus leader still planning to move to Upstate
  6. ^ Christian Exodus Newsletter #4
  7. ^ Will 'Christian Exodus' move to Southwest Idaho?
  8. ^ Voting 'no' on Hillary, Obama and McCain

[edit] External links