An Exclusive Q & A
Blog-Journalism from The Daily Bailout
Daily Bailout's John Bailes talks with David Richardson on 9 May 2005. Richardson is chairman of Brotherhood Ministries at East Waynesville Baptist Church, North Carolina. An interview with Lewis Inman is here, and an earlier Kos story here. At Daily Bailout there is also a news story today(click here).
Q: Where do you live?
A: In Maggie Valley. It's known for Ghost Town. That's an amusement park. We've got a ski slope here too. Our town is a tourist place. A lot of retired people live here.
Q: How old are you?
A: 72.
Q: Married?
A: Yes.
Q: What did you do before retiring?
A: I was an industrial engineer. I grew up in Georgia and worked there and other places. I also am a Korean War veteran.
[Continue on below:]
Q: How long have you been a Southern Baptist?
A: About 58 years, in different churches.
Q: So what's happening in Waynesville?
A: This is not a show! This is serious!
Q: Lewis Inman told me that your minister called a meeting last Monday night. Is that right?
A: Sure. He invited anybody who wanted to attend. The problem is that we have a set of bylaws. But the pastor told me face to face that he did not have to abide by the laws of man. He said he would abide by the law of God, and then he held up his Bible.
Q: That doesn't sound right. What did you do?
A: I told him, and I'll tell you, we're all born again Christians and we believe in Christian teachings.
Q: Did he say anything about politics?
A: He said that Bush was the best Christian this country's ever seen, and that Kerry supported abortion and homosexuality and those who support him [Kerry] should repent or leave the church.
Q: Are you a Democrat or did you vote for Kerry?
A: When people ask me that, I tell them, "I'm a Christian." But I sometimes vote Democrat in the primaries because I feel I can do more good that way. I voted for George Bush for president. Mostly I vote Republican. I vote for the best person for the country, the person who I hope will end abortion in our country. But I think the worst thing for our government is to have two parties, Democrat and Republican.
Q: How did you feel about the minister's ultimatum?
A: I believe you ought to ask God who to vote for, not a preacher. And I told the preacher that God may have given him the message, but he didn't put the words in our hearts.
Q: I understand that this politicizing started back in Oct. 2004.
A: That's right. And it didn't stop until today at church.
Q: What have been the consequences?
A: Some people have left the church, a couple of families too. He kept telling us that if you don't support George Bush you ought to leave or repent. We couldn't take communion because most of the deacons were not going to support the pastor. We didn't even have communion on Easter. Of course, there was one deacon who still supported the preacher. Finally, last Sunday [May 1] he vowed to continue to fight us and invited everyone to a Deacons' Meeting Monday night so that "we can get rid of the troublemakers." Lots of the people clapped and cheered when he said that.
Q: Did you go to the meeting?
A: No, but I'm a "member in good standing" and can vote. The teenagers were there on Monday, though.
Q: Can teenagers vote?
A: Sure. Some of them can. That's mainly who were there on Monday.
Q: So what happened on Monday night, May 2?
A: Well, first let me say that I went right up to the pastor and told him you preached a good sermon of forgiveness tonight, but you hurt some people's feelings by calling them troublemakers. But he just said that he didn't do anything wrong. On Monday night, and remember I wasn't there, but this is what I heard. The preacher told the ones he wanted to vote out that because they hadn't voted for George Bush they'd have to be voted out. But some of them, nine of them, got up and left. And I heard the ones with the preacher started clapping and cheering. I heard that new members would have to sign a card saying they agreed with the preacher's political views.
Q: We're these the young people?
A: Yeah, mainly the teenagers.
Q: Who are these teenagers?
A: Well, there were some older people too who are with the preacher. But the youth program is run by Mrs. Chandler and she does a great job. You won't find another church with so exciting a youth program around here.
Q: Lewis Inman says that Rev. Chandler has these teenagers wrapped around his finger. Do you agree?
A: No. Well, yeah. Maybe. He does have control over them. And I don't know what they're teaching them. His wife has done an excellent job with them, something we could be proud of. I mean you have to give the devil credit where his is due.
Q: We're the teens the main supporters of this political approach to church?
A: No, no. There were all ages. Most of the members are hard-working people and the preacher was preaching soul-saving messages when I first came here. Lots of older people like him too.
Q: What you heard is hearsay. Is there any hard evidence?
A: Oh my, yes. Just call WLOS in Ashville. Russ Bowen there has the audio tapes of the preacher saying everything we've been talking about.
Q: What about the women of the church? How do they feel about all this?
A: Women for years and years have put their lives on the line, and they [the Southern Baptist churches] wouldn't allow any of them to have their say. I have no idea why any of these women put up with that. I mean most of these women at our church are smart. How can they allow that man, the preacher, tell them how to vote?
Q: Have you been interviewed by anyone else?
A: "Good Morning, America" wanted all of us on their show. They were going to fly us up and put us in hotels. But our lawyer said we've had enough coverage. MSNBC interviewed me, though. You can probably find that online.
Q: So how is this conflict going to be resolved?
A: Well, let me say this. I approached him [Chandler] many times because he was splitting out adult Sunday School apart with politics. Now he didn't mention politics at all today. Still if he stays on I won't sit under his preaching. I have no vendetta, and I'll forgive him. But if he does stay, we'll have to go to another church. You go where you feel comfortable. He's been running a dictatorship here. Now he's got a lawyer who used to be district attorney in Silva. We got an attorney too. He's from First Baptist of Waynesville and he's helping us for free. I hear the IRS may file a suit. I don't know. Right now assets are frozen, and so are salaries. We didn't take up an offering today. We found out that you can't vote a member out without telling about the meeting 10 days before the vote, and the vote has to be secret, and only members in "good standing" can vote.
Q: What are members in good standing?
A: Ones who come to church once a month. I think. I'll have to check about that.
Q: If he leaves, what would he do?
A: He worked in agriculture before he came here. And he goes to a school of theology down the road. I don't know. Maybe he'd farm. He's got a farm now.