Jonesville Church of God sign controversy

The Jonesville Church of God sign controversy occurred when the church was brought to national attention in mid-April 2008 because of a message its pastor, Roger Byrd, placed on the the church's welcome sign. The message linked Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama with Islamic militant Osama bin Laden. The sign asked, "OBAMA OSAMA / HUMM / ARE THEY BROTHERS". The sign message caused controversy because it was seen as a window into rural American white ignorance and unconscious racism in the Southern United States, and as furthering politically-motivated rumors that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Fifteen percent of respondents to a recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll stated that they thought the Illinois senator was a Muslim. Yet Obama was raised in a non-religious home, and in his early thirties became a Christian and joined Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago.

Jonesville Church of God is located in Jonesville, South Carolina, and is affiliated with the , a Pentecostal Christian denomination, which later distanced itself from the sign's message.

Protest and reaction

After word got out about the sign, members of a nearby African American church began a protest in front of Jonesville Church of God, and confronted Byrd, stating that the message was racist to African Americans.

Byrd stated that he was "shocked" and "startled" that the message produced controversy, that he did not intend to make a political or racial statement, but wanted "simply to cause people to realize and to see what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in that does not believe in Jesus Christ." Bryd further added, "I'm not meaning to say that he has the same character as Osama, but it hit my mind that their names are so close. Maybe there's some sort of kinship". When asked if he thought Barack Obama was a Muslim, Byrd stated, "I question him, because those men who flew those planes into the Twin Towers had been over here quite a while." In another instance Bryd stated, "His name is so close to Osama I have a feeling he might be Islamic, and therefore he doesn’t recognize Christ." Byrd additionally stated, "Just change one letter and you got either name". Byrd told the protesters, "I don't think you're getting my point at all."

One protester noted how Byrd appeared unable to perceive his message from the perspective of African Americans. Another noted to Byrd that he appeared to have no sorrow or shame over the matter.

One news piece noted a connection between the sign and conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh, who frequently name calls Barack Obama as "Obama Osama".

After the sign garnered national attention, the church's congregation, none who are African American, voted unanimously to keep it up. Bryd additionally stated he did not want to appear to give in to controversy.

Removal of message

The sign's message was nevertheless taken down several days later. Around the same time, on 22 April 2008, the headquarters of the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) released a press statement stating, "Any endorsement, direct or implied, made by a local church is regrettable and is not supported," and that "the single goal and purpose of the Church of God is the furtherance of the ministry of the gospel." Jonesville Church of God refused further questions afterward, and replaced the message with a new one, "HOW WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY / SMOKING OR NO SMOKING."

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