Petition for NC Forsyth County to Defend Jesus Prayers

Petition Posted by Gordon James Klingenschmitt on February 14, 2010, 01:11 AM

PLEASE ADD YOUR "AMEN" TO THE FREE PETITION BELOW!

Commissioner Dave Plyler
Forsyth County, N.C.

SIGN FREE PETITION BELOW, TO SEVEN MEMBERS OF FORSYTH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, TO DEFEND JESUS PRAYERS, AND DONATE TO HELP THEM.

OUR PLEDGE: 100% of donations given to Pray In Jesus Name Ministries from 13 Feb to 22 Feb 2010 will be pledged and held in reserve for Forsyth County, to mitigate the risk of loss, if they boldly appeal to the Supreme Court and lose, in defense of free speech and the right to pray publicly "in Jesus name."

Will Forsyth N.C. Appeal Court's Ban on Jesus Prayers?

By Wesley Young | Journal Reporter

Published: February 12, 2010

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will decide on Feb. 22 whether to appeal a U.S. District Court ruling that forbids sectarian references in prayers [and bans the illegal words "in Jesus name"] at the start of board meetings.

Before then, Commissioner Dave Plyler, the board's chairman and swing vote on the issue, will meet with the leader of a local citizens group to see whether an agreement can be reached that would give the county financial support for the appeal.

In 2007, citizens backed by the American Civil Liberties Union sued the county for allowing sectarian references -- specifically, the mention of Jesus or Christ -- in invocations that clergymen deliver at the start of the commissioners' meetings. The plaintiffs said -- and a federal judge agreed -- that by allowing such prayers, the county was advancing Christianity.

A national group called the Alliance Defense Fund is paying the county's legal bills, but won't cover payments to the plaintiffs for damages or legal expenses should the county lose.

At a news conference yesterday, Steve Corts, the chairman of the N.C. Partnership for Religious Liberty, announced that his local group has collected $100,000 in pledges toward an appeal, in addition to $55,000 that the group has in money.

Corts said he is convinced that a majority of residents support an appeal and that they will "continue to do so personally and financially in the future should the matter go further."

The ACLU has estimated its legal fees at about $125,000 so far, said Mike Johnson, the ADF attorney representing the county. It has estimated that it would cost another $100,000 to appeal.

[In other words, we are still $70,000 short = $225,000-155,000. So please DONATE HERE, and
help fulfill OUR PLEDGE as stated above.]

Read full article: http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/feb/12/board-weighs-prayer-issue/news-local/

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TAKE ACTION FOUR WAYS:
1) Sign the FREE petition below and write your comment which we'll post now.
2) Please politely email AND telephone each of the seven city council members below and politely ask them to vote to appeal the bad Judge's decision to ban Jesus' prayers.
3) Phone and email Commissioner Dave Plyler himself to encourage him to vote for appeal.
4) Pray God will bless the voters of Forsyth County, NC with wisdom before the next election.

Seven Forsyth County Commissioners:

David R. Plyler, Chairman
(336) 413-1102
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Email the Commissioners

Debra Conrad, Vice Chair
(336) 760-9653
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Email the Commissioners

Ted Kaplan
(336) 703-2006
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Email the Commissioners

Richard V. Linville
(336) 727-2531
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Email the Commissioners

Beaufort O. Bailey
(336) 922-6946
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Email the Commissioners

Walter Marshall
(336) 529-0094
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Email the Commissioners

Gloria D. Whisenhunt
(336) 748-3229
View Profile
Email the Commissioners

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A PRAYER TO ALMIGHTY GOD,
and
A PETITION TO COMMISSIONERS OF FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C.:

Dear Commissioners:

We the undersigned, respectfully petition you to defend religious freedom by allowing visiting pastors

of all diverse faiths and denominations, to pray aloud publicly according to the dictates of their own conscience,

at or before city council meetings, even if they dare to pray aloud publicly "in Jesus name" or invoke their own specific deity.

Please do not cave-in to atheist intimidation by the enemies of religious liberty, including Judge James A. Beaty, who ruled

with another magistrate to ban prayers "in Jesus name" and sided with the anti-Christian ACLU.

Please conform your decision to First Amendment precedent which allows Jesus prayers among other rotating diverse prayers,

as already decided in the 7th Circuit (Hinrichs v. Bosma) and 11th Circuit (Pelphrey v. Cobb County)

and by the Supreme Court of the United States in two decisions: Marsh v. Chambers and especially Lee v. Weisman.

Jesus is not an illegal word, the Bible is not a banned book, and prayer speech is not a crime.

We pray to God you will stand with us by taking a courageous stand for liberty, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Add your "Amen" by signing below, and WE WILL POST YOUR COMMENTS to the
Commissioners of Forsyth County, N.C., immediately.

Sign the Petition

Petition Signatures

Gordon James Klingenschmitt - Colorado Springs, CO

Please defend our right to pray "in Jesus name!" We will support you and donate legal aid, if you do.

John - Corning, NY

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: that it connected in one indissoluble bond civil government with the principles of Christianity.” —President John Quincy Adams

Marlene J. - Chipley, FL

May God have mercy on us all. I know He is not pleased with how we are allowing America to go . He will heal our land if only we will turn to Him.

D. Clifford - New Smyrna Beach, Florida

DO THE RIGHT THING!!

Ron - Santee, CA

Freedom of religion does not mean freedom "FROM" religion. The "Separation of church and state" is not in the US Constitution. It is however in the old Soviet (USSR) constitution. We live in an upside down country where wrong is right and right is wrong. This is due to Godless liberalism all through our education and law community. They can no longer reason logically. We are losing our freedom and our way of life because of it.

BARBARA - PALM HARBOR, FL

COURTS & JUDGES ARE NOT ABIDING BY OUR CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS, ETC. PERHAPS WE SHOULD IMPEACH THEM. THIS IS A COUTRY OF CHRISTIANITY AND CHRISTIAN VALUES.

BARBARA - PALM HARBOR, FL

COURTS & JUDGES ARE NOT ABIDING BY OUR CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS, ETC. PERHAPS WE SHOULD IMPEACH THEM. THIS IS A COUTRY OF CHRISTIANITY AND CHRISTIAN VALUES.

Dave & Sonja - Odum, GA.

THE ASSAULTS ON CHRISTIANITY IN THIS NATION UNDER GOD HAVE GOT TO STOP. CHRISTIANS HAVE SUFFERED MUCH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS DUE TO BEING OVER-TOLERANT, AND THE TIME TO FIGHT BACK IS HERE AND NOW!

Robert - West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

This is unconstitutional violating our freedom of worship.

marie - springfield, missouri

it is so sad that our once great nation which was based on our liberties of free speech. schools used to pray each morning before class and do the pledge to the flag . Jesus was a name spoken most reverently. we must pray for our nation before it is to late and our liberties are gone

William M. - North Canton, Ohio

Gentlemen: Please stand in defense of our Savior and Lord and the freedom to speak His name in public prayers. Sincerely, Bill McPherson

Richard C. & Helen S. - Wildwood, GA

Get your head on straight and stand up for what you know to be just and right. RCH & HSH

Dennis M. - Manchester, MO

All Americans are guaranteed (by the constitution) FREE SPEECH and the right to practice their religion, anywhere, anytime and anyplace. Only as long as America remains a Christian nation, will these fundamental FREEDOMS by allowed!

Rich - Bend, Oregon

In Jesus name Amen

Craig - Tate, Ga

Do not let the anti-American ACLU ruin our country any more than they already have.