Church, Cable State Oppose Visit of Separationist Pastor

I've reported more than once on Rev. Charles "Bo" Turner, pastor of the Tallula Falls Baptist Church who successfully challenged a display of the Ten Commandments in Habersham County, Georgia. He was invited to speak at a Chautauqua Festival in Florida, but now a Baptist church and a church-owned cable station are raising complaints about him.

The Sun-Sentinel explains that the First Baptist Church and withdrawn his invitation while the cable station is threatening to pull out if Turner shows up:

Cable channel WWEO TV 24, operated by the World Evangelism Outreach Church, has canceled its usual Chautauqua coverage because of Turner's appearance, said station spokeswoman Katrina Pickles. "If they are letting people speak against the knowledge of God, then I don't want anything to do with it," Pickles said.

Do note that Turner is a pastor at a Baptist church - but because he advocates the separation of church and state, this cable station considers him to be an opponent of God.

Pickett was surprised by the church's decision, noting the festival also has invited state Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, to present the opposing view March 7. "This is an ongoing national debate on the constitutional issue of separation of church and state," Pickett said. "We are presenting both sides of this argument."

There are two possible explanations for the actions of the church and the cable station. If they are opposing the appearance of any supporters of the separation of church and state, then it's just a general case of trying to keep people from hearing about a view they disagree with. If they don't oppose other supporters, just Turner, then maybe they don't want people to see that there are Christian leaders who defend the separation of church and state. That would, after all, make it more difficult for them to paint defenders as godless heathens.

Read More:

• Secularism 101
• Separation of Church and State 101
• Religious Right
• Christian Nationalism
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