Baptist Press: Reading from a prepared statement May 10, North Carolina pastor Chan Chandler told members of East Waynesville Baptist Church he was resigning as the church's minister, effective immediately.
At issue was the alleged ouster of nine church members who said their names were removed from the church rolls because of their political views. Chandler told BP that no one at the church had been ousted from church membership based on anyone's political views or voting record.
Answering the allegation that Chandler jeopardized the church's tax-exempt status by preaching against presidential candidate John Kerry, Cassell pointed to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, saying they have supported Democratic candidates in church settings before.
