Community Church Takes Stand on Religious Freedom

Recently an activist group for separation of church and state in Washington D.C. wrote the town of Dugger to remove the two story cross that sits on town property along S.R. 54.

The group says Dugger is violating the law.

NBC 2's Paige Preusse introduces us the church that put up the cross. and refuses to take it down.

"For whatever reason they want to take away the Christian liberties, but everyone else is free to do what they want to do, and that is disturbing," said Ann Brown with Whosoever Will Full Gospel Church.

It's how the majority of the congregation at Whosoever Will Full Gospel feel after the Dugger Town Council received a letter from the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State requesting the cross that Faith Community Church built two years ago be taken down.

"We don't disagree with their ultimate goal, but we do disagree with the method," said associate pastor Chip Langley.

Langley says their request doesn't reflect the concept of separation of church and state, something he agrees with.

"It's kind of odd because we believe the same thing please don't as a government tell the people how to worship, and I believe that's at the foundation of our country," continued Langley.

He says it's not necessarily the structure that they want to remain, but it's symbolism.

"We want to make sure that the message remains. That's why it's important that the cross stays and the message be known abroad," said Langley.

Meanwhile they say they won't take the cross down, but will carry out the Christian method.

"We are for Christ, we are not against people,and so the message that we want to make sure remains is Christ saves, Jesus saves," said Langley.

Drawing more believers to stand up for their savior.

"It's bringing a lot of people out of the woodwork, standing up for Jesus who normally wouldn't. So I'm not saying it's all bad," said Cody Lafever.

"Not only will he save people, but our nation right now with everything that we're going through," said Ashley Lafever

Church staff say the town council is considering selling the property so that it becomes private property.

They are also considering a legal battle once they hear back from the group after not complying to their request.