Christian Exodus is a Christian secessionist group promoting a mass emigration of fundamentalist Christians to South Carolina with the goal of influencing the governmental process in the state. It has announced intentions to move people to selected cities and counties of South Carolina in stages, with each stage timed to influence a particular election cycle. The group has the stated goal of relocating more than 50,000 people. The first city in South Carolina targeted is Anderson, South Carolina.^[1] The group claims that some 15 families are already in Anderson, South Carolina, ready for the full Exodus. In addition to South Carolina, the group announced in the Fall of 2007 that Christian Exodus supporters would also settle in Gem County, Idaho. ^[2]. For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... Anderson is a city located in Anderson County, South Carolina. ... Gem County is a county located in the state of Idaho. ... -1...

The logo of Christan Exodus incorporates the Protestant Christian Flag created in 1897 by Rev. Charles Overton. The Christian Flag The Christian Flag is a flag designed to represent all of Christianity (see also Christendom), but flown mainly by Protestant churches in North America, Africa, and Latin America. ...

Beliefs

According to their literature, Christian Exodus believes that the United States has strayed from its founding vision, and they refer to their program as restoring the nation to its Puritan roots. The group's mission statement reads: For the record label, see Puritan Records. ...

"ChristianExodus.org is an association of Christians who no longer wish to live under the unjust usurpation of powers by the federal government, and therefore resolves to formally disassociate itself from this tyrannical authority, and return to the model of governance of a constitutional republic. We seek a republican government constrained by constitutionally delegated powers. If this cannot be achieved within the United States, then we believe a peaceful withdrawal from the union to be the last available remedy."^[3]

In particular, they focus on the following areas of concern, which would generally be classified as ultraconservative:
Conservatism is any of several historically-related political philosophies or political ideologies. ...

• To oppose the increasing acceptance of homosexuality, and especially of civil unions or outright gay marriage. The group maintains that, "...sexual conduct outside the bonds of marriage is not a God-given right. Therefore, homosexual activity is a behavior that a state may regulate and legislate against."
• To abolish public funding for education, and to protect homeschooling. The group "...prefers the privatization of education whether in the form of private schools or home schooling because public administration is far less efficient and immorally taxes citizens not receiving the service paid for."
• To repeal State and Federal laws that they believe violate the right to keep and bear arms.
• To repeal court rulings that they feel abuse the power of eminent domain, and that they fear will lead to arbitrary seizure.
• They fear laws will soon be passed defining the practice of Christianity as a hate crime.
• They feel the rights of fathers are not upheld in child custody cases.
• They advocate the repeal of the Fourteenth Amendments, which defined state and federal citizenship and secured civil rights to former slaves. Christian Exodus says "The Amendment was properly voted on and properly rejected; only after the dissenting states were not allowed a vote was the Amendment passed. (...) We hold that it is the obligation of the various States to nullify this Amendment and all laws and court rulings arising from it."
• They advocate repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which permits the taxation of all forms of income by the Federal Government.
• They advocate repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment, which requires popular election of Senators.
• They advocate that the states should have power to prohibit the immigration and/or naturalization of such persons as each sees fit to exclude as was originally the case in America.

Christian Exodus has not ruled out seceding from the United States. South Carolina was picked because the group believes that it has a high chance of seceding again due to the fact that it was listed in the Treaty of Paris as a sovereign nation, and because it was the first state to secede from the United States at the onset of the American Civil War. In the former respect, however, South Carolina is not unique: all thirteen colonies were individually named as independent states in Article I of the treaty. (See also Republic of Hawaii, Republic of Texas, Republic of Vermont and Bear Flag Republic (California)). Furthermore, the ratifications of the U.S. Constitution by New York, Rhode Island and Virginia all retained the right of those states to leave the union of their own free will, and these ratifications were accepted in their entirety by the other states. Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... A civil union is one of several terms for a civil status similar to marriage, typically created for the purposes of allowing homosexual couples access to the benefits enjoyed by married heterosexuals (see also same-sex marriage); it can also be used by couples of differing sexes who do not... Same-sex marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. ... Homeschooling[1] ( also called home education), home learning or homeschool[1] – is the education of children at home, typically by parents or guardians, rather than in a public or private school. ... The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights, prevents the federal government from infringing on the right to keep and bear firearms. ... Eminent domain (United States), compulsory purchase (United Kingdom, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland), resumption/compulsory acquisition (Australia) or expropriation (Canada, South Africa) in common law legal systems is the inherent power of the state to seize a citizens private property, expropriate property, or rights in property, without the owner... Topics in Christianity Preaching Prayer Ecumenism Relation to other religions Movements Music Liturgy Calendar Symbols Art Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... A Jewish cemetery in France after being defaced by Neo-Nazis. ... Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are sometimes used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parents duty to care for the child. ... Amendment XIV in the National Archives The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (Amendment XIV) is one of the post-Civil War amendments (known as the Reconstruction Amendments), first intended to secure rights for former slaves. ... Amendment XVI in the National Archives The Sixteenth Amendment (Amendment XVI) of the United States Constitution was ratified on February 3, 1913. ... Amendment XVII in the National Archives Amendment XVII (the Seventeenth Amendment) of the United States Constitution was passed by the Senate on June 12, 1911 and by the House on May 13, 1912. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... For other uses, see Secession (disambiguation). ... Painting by Benjamin West depicting (from left to right) John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region or group of people, such as a nation or a tribe. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... In 1775, the British claimed authority over the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange. ... Iolani Palace in Honolulu, formerly the residence of the Hawaiian monarch, was the capitol of the Republic of Hawaii. ... For the latter day independence movement surrounding Texas, see Republic of Texas (group). ... Vermont Republic was the name of what is now the state of Vermont during the 14 years before it joined the United States as the 14th state. ... The first Bear Flag. ... This article is about the U.S state. ...

History and affiliations

Christian Exodus was modeled after the Free State Project, a libertarian group that aims to relocate libertarians to New Hampshire. Christian Exodus' founding documents contained language very similar to that in the Free State Project's Statement of Intent and Participation Guidelines, but founder Cory Burnell has aimed recruiting at an ideologically different segment of the population. The Free State Project (FSP) is a plan to have 20,000 or more liberty-oriented people move to a single state of the United States, with the intent of influencing local politics and policy. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... For other uses, see New Hampshire (disambiguation). ... Cory Burnell is the founder of Christian Exodus. ...

Throughout 2004 Christian Exodus worked closely with the League of the South to build support in South Carolina,^[4] but in recent years has distanced itself publicly from the League. A 2006 goal to relocate 12,000 individuals to South Carolina was not met. To date the group claims that only about 15 families have relocated to South Carolina. Founder Cory Burnell still resides in California despite his own earlier efforts to relocate.^[5] The League of the South is a Southern nationalist organization whose ultimate goal is a free and independent Southern republic. ... Cory Burnell is the founder of Christian Exodus. ...

In late 2007 the group announced that a separate contingent in Idaho had been founded.^[6] According to reports the group is made up of several families already settled in Gem County, Idaho who share the original view of Christian Exodus, but are unwilling to relocate to South Carolina. The group is led by Paul Smith, an active member of the Constitution Party of Idaho and former Congressional candidate.^[7] The Constitution Party is a conservative United States political party. ...

Christian Exodus and the Constitution Party have co-authored a website called "Save America Summit"^[8] which promotes Constitution Party Presidential candidates and Christian Separatist ideology.

References

External links

• Christian Exodus homepage
• A Free (and Christian) South Carolina?
• Christian Exodous: An anti-government religion
• Bloggers tell Exodus to take a hike
• Christian Exodus targets Anderson County
• Local conservatives wary of Christian Exodus
• Christian movement moving in
• Save America Summit homepage