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Published: April 21, 2008
Updated: April 22, 2008
MAYODAN — A Mayodan church publicly calling for the defeat of a May 6 ballot issue for the sale of liquor by the drink is being investigated by the state Board of Elections for failing to file as a political committee.
Tina Cardwell, deputy director of the Rockingham County Board of Elections, said her office was obliged to intervene after it received several reports from Mayodan residents. The committee set up to advocate liquor by the drink, Yes For Progress, sent the election board a complaint April 15. It said the church group was doing the same type of publicity as Yes For Progress but failed to file with the county or admit that a church must follow the same laws as other groups.
The elections board sent a letter to the Rev. Paul Sisk, pastor of West Side Baptist, notifying him the church was trying to influence a public vote and would need to file with the Board of Elections. The group would then report the sources of money that paid for publicity, like fliers or tracts urging people to vote against liquor by the drink.
In response, Cardwell said the BOE received a letter from Gibbs Law Firm, of Seminole, Fla., on behalf of West Side Baptist Church. Attorney David Gibbs wrote that state law defines a referen-dum committee as being assembled for the primary purpose of supporting or opposing the passage of a ballot referendum. Gibbs said West Side Baptist’s primary purpose was to spread Christianity, not to oppose a ballot issue.
“As such, it is not a ‘referendum committee’ as defined by the North Carolina General Statutes and, therefore not subject to any of the registration requirements set forth in Chapter 163, including the filing of a ‘Statement of Purpose,’” Gibbs wrote.
The N.C. 2008-09 Campaign Finance Manual says a referendum committee must declare its purpose for organization and must comply with the state laws for collecting and spending money to publicly oppose or support a ballot issue. The manual does not restrict what or how committees present arguments for or against.
The letter closes with the statement that the church wishes for an amicable resolution, but it will “vigorously pursue and protect their rights” if need be.
At receipt of Gibbs’ letter, the case was referred to the state board for investigation.
“We have received a complaint about the group and have begun an investigation,” said Adam Ragan, a compliance specialist for the campaign finance division of the state BOE.
Ragan said he could not comment on the investigation until its completion, but if the state board rules against the church group, the punishment may vary.
The statute says a group refusing to comply could face a civil case or criminal prosecution by the local district attorney. Ragan said the Internal Revenue Service has the right to withdraw a church’s tax-exempt status if it violates political participation guidelines.
Sisk said the church group will not file with the BOE.
“Because, according to the law, we are exempt from going to the election board,” Sisk said. “We are a church, not a committee.”
Sisk said the church opposed the same issue in 2004, but it was not required to file. That was the first year the requirement was law and compliance was not policed, so referendum committees presented public messages without being contacted by the BOE. Sisk said he assumed nothing had changed in the past three years.
“I had no idea we had to go to the Board of Elections because this is a moral issue, it’s a Bible issue and we’re just trying to warn people about the dangers of alcohol,” Sisk said.
Sisk said church members regularly go door-to-door handing out gospel tracts printed by the church but had no government interference until a vote was mentioned.
The church, he said, will push the issue “(A)s far as our lawyer says we can go.”
A message left with Gibbs Law Firm was not returned.
Staff writer Heather J. Smith can be reached at or 623-2155, ext. 15.
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Reader Reactions
Nope, one visit to Brother Paul’s sermon was one time too many for me. Thanks, but no thanks.
My husband was raised in Mayodan. We Love Mayodan. I would hate to see anything happen to this wonderful town. But, I believe that allowing liquor by the drink will only put a curse of God on Mayodan. For the record, West Side is NOT a cult, it is a God loving, God respecting church. Instead of talking about the church why not come and listen to what Bro. Paul preaches instead of making up lies on him. But then I guess your too afraid to hear the truth aren’t you. West Side is for the development of Mayodan, and there can be development without alchol. If hotels want to build here why don’t they? The race in Martinsville brings plenty of buisness twice a year. If they wanted to they would have already. Don’t run down a church until you know what you’re talking about. Becareful what you say about a man that God has called to preach His Word. I pray that you will keep calm and reasonable. Don’t be so hateful about things. I would never, NEVER, talk about someone’s pastor.
It seems that alot of peoplet listen to one man and can not think for themselves. At the wedding what did Jesus turn water into? I guess it was Welches Grape Juice not wine. Most of the traders along the Nile fermented the juices wheat etc so they could store it. So it would not spoil. Paul Sisk can lead his small flock but he has no right to post it on the board outside the church and hand out fliers. You people decide to go to the church. I do not want to see your fearless leader Paul Sisks opinions forced in front of me on a tax free PAUL SISK OPINION BOARD in front of your house of worship. He is Power Hungry person that wants to control his followers and now Mayodan.In return he is trying to cause damage to the local economy by keeping unemployed people from taken jobs at major chains like Ruby Tuesday, Outback etc that may come to Mayodan. I bet he does not turn down the money that you people give to him. If you work at Walmart Food Lion does he take your tithes? You are selling the devil juice (cough cough) wine and beer. If you worked at a establishment that served mixed drinks would he turn down your money? This is the reason I stoped going to church. Churches have started preaching politics and have become more of a social club. I must say some preachers have become more like a CEO running a church to make a profit. I do not go to church but I want to give my respect to one church in the town of Mayodan. I do not know much about The First Baptist Church in Mayodan. I do have some friends that go to the church tho. I want to say thanks to the church for what they did last weekend in our community. I did not know who they where at first then I remembered a friend told me that the church was going to do things in the community. I asked him to make sure it was them when I saw him again. I spoted a few groups one at the park in Mayodan planting a tree. I must say thanks. I hated to see the Town of Mayodan cut the old tree that stood in the middle of the park down. I remember playing under as I attended Elliot Duncan. I also saw a group of the Greenies as I called them to my daughter in their neon green shirts building a ramp at a house on main street in Mayodan. Which do you think is making more a difference in the community Mr. Sisk do we think we will even remember you when you are gone? I doubt it if we do. If you are remembered it will be your ego and disregard for the law. But you know what every time I pass by the park in Mayodan and see that tree. I will remember the First Baptist Church. I hope the church grows as the limbs on that tree does. I hope the love for the community that church showed last Saturday continues to stretch over Mayodan and surrounding areas like the limbs of that tree. I hope the shadow of the that church stretches over the community to show the love that Jesus showed to the Drunks, whores, etc. Mr. Sisk take down the sign and stop breaking the law. A sin is a sin. Breaking the law is a sin and you are the leader of your flock. Lead be example Mr. Sisk. Once again thanks to the First Baptist Church for opening my eyes a little wider to show me that maybe not all Churches are like the West Side Baptist Church and the ones I have attended in the past.
Thanks
To the Alton Vaden response. STOP IT nobody outside your little circle wants to hear your version of the bible nor the version your pastor is preaching. That is your choice don’t force it on others. If you are a fool and you choose to be, then so be it. You don’t speak for all christians so just STOP IT. There are more religions than the West Side Baptist version (independent that is). Maybe the southern baptist figured this church out long ago. You will lose this referendum and I hope the tax paying citizens of that city rubs your nose in it. Let’s now ask this question. Is there anything else going on in this church illegal? Maybe like whats going on in Texas? Sounds just like a CULT to me. Does your pastor have a Kool-Aid recipe? The way guys brought your church into this matter makes you look like a bunch of uneducated, backward shallowed minded people stuck in the 1940’s blinded by one man’s idiotic thoughts & beliefs. This church seems to be that extreme, maybe it would warrant a closer look once this is over. That town may need a STOP THE CULT referendum. Again, STOP IT…
29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Proverbs 23:29-32
It is not my purpose to offend anyone, nor hurt anyone feelings. It is to warn about the dangers of mixed drinks,
and then driving a car. A godly pastor that stands up to expound the word of God is simply doing his duty. May God bless Mayodan, and may His will be done.
Well, Living4Jesus, here’s the deal… We would RATHER spend our hard earned dollars here in Mayodan, contributing to our tax base and our utility rates RATHER than give Greensboro our tax dollars. Do you realize how stupid that statement sounds??!! Why would I work TWO jobs and bring home my paycheck to turn around and drive all the way to Greensboro to 1.) put Xtra gas in my car to get there, and 2.) Give Greensboro the sales tax, tax revenue, water revenue, so that 3.) MY property taxes here in Mayodan go up and my water rates here in Mayodan go up. How hard is that for you people to understand?? You don’t care about that because you pay NO taxes here. You don’t have property taxes here, do you? I know that the majority of the Westside people that came door to door do not even live here in Mayodan - you pay your taxes elsewhere. So what business is it of yours? I know Brother Paul lives in Stokes County. I know that Charles Adams lives in Madison. I know for a fact that some of the people going door to door were in cars with Virginia license plates.
What is wrong with your thinking??!!! If Brother Paul wants to pay my water bill every other month and wants to pay my tax bill every year - please show me the LOVE.
Do you know people who has lost their job or are losing their job??!!! Do you not care that people need places to work? One member of the legally registered committee lost their job and went 5 months without so much as an interview! One member of the legally registered committee has been given notice that her company is closing in two weeks. WE NEED JOBS! What is it about that that you all don’t understand??!! If I have to work two, three, or four part-time jobs to pay my mortgage, taxes, and water bills - I will have to! And I certainly don’t want to drive to Greensboro to find a job. Please use some common sense. This whole argument is NOT about the alcohol. It is about JOBS, TAXES, and keeping our town from sinking into financial disaster. Do you realize when a town’s fund balance drops below 8% the State can take over your town for you? Did you know that? Find out what the fund balance percentage is for Mayodan. It’s dropping year after year after year. When we drop to that 8% I don’t want the State taking control of my town. But to tell you the truth, between the State controlling it and your church controlling it - I’ll chose the State every day of the week and twice on Sunday. I can’t believe you have no compassion for people needing jobs here. Do you know what the cost of fuel is? Do you care? To suggest that we drive to Greensboro in this day and time is ludicrous.
If there is a restaurant that sells alcohol - DON’T GO THERE if you are against it. It’s that simple. You already admitted you shop where alchol is sold. No one is holding a gun to your head and forcing it down your throat. If you don’t like a TV show, don’t you turn the channel? It is simply common sense!!! When you’re surfing the web, are you compelled to look at pornography? Of course not, you use your own values and discreation to NOT click on that link - or maybe you don’t - but I don’t see you out protesting the internet because someone might let pornography ruin their lives. I asked about tobacco - why didn’t anyone answer that question? Do you all believe in smoking or not? It’s dangerous - it’s deadly - it brings heartache - where’s your values and morals on that? I don’t see you protesting stores or people that sell cigarettes and such.
The few corporate companies that are here have nowhere to lodge their executives, shareholders, or sales people. We need a motel/hotel. Those companies will likely pack up and leave without the proper lodging and restaurants to make their travelers comfortable. I have relatives flying in for a visit - they need a place to stay and they’re having to be lodged in Eden or Greensboro. Wouldn’t a hotel/motel be nice to have here? Can you imagine the money dropped into our coffers here with travelers going to the Martinsville Speedway - to the State Park - people coming from the north on their way to the coast? I just do not, for the life of me, understand your way of thinking.
I surely am not going to sit back and let you and your church, without a fight, turn Mayodan into a religious compound much like what is going on in Texas. I won’t sit back and let you, without a fight, turn Mayodan into a sect or cult of people who do everything that Brother Paul says to do or don’t do - shave, wear dresses, don’t wear the bi-kinis, don’t partake of the wine at communion, women can’t preach… I mean, where does it end? Who made Brother Paul the moral compass and biblical expert for all of us? Every member of that committee worships God. They all read the Bible. They each have their own pastors, bishops, and ministers. EVERY SINGLE member of that committee was raised in Mayodan, raised their children in Mayodan, and live, work and pay taxes in Mayodan. It’s a shame that you all can’t say that. They have followed the letter of the law. It’s a shame that you all can’t say that.
If this community is divided - and that’s a big IF - Westside Baptist Church caused it. A church should never involve itself in politics - you don’t pay taxes. Pay some taxes and then we’ll talk!!!
Our right as Americans is to worship in our own way - not just Brother Paul’s way. THAT is why we live in the U.S.A.
I don’t know why anyone would want to change Mayodan. It has such a hometown feel to it. But this vote for progress nonsense wants to change Mayodan into Greensboro. Why not keep it like it is. If you want to go to resturants that sell liquor by the drink, then go to the cities that have them, don’t try to bring the cities here. Mayodan is a small community where it’s citizens care about one another. But, it seems like this liquor by the drink vote has made people go against each other. Mayodan also has a strong Christian background, but wanting to let liquor by the drink in isn’t very Christian at all. I am a member of West Side Baptist Church, and you should be careful talking about a pastor of a church, I don’t care if it is Bro. Paul or any other pastor. Bro. Paul is the only pastor in the town of Mayodan that has enough love for God to stand against sin. He and our congregation want to keep Mayodan the way it is. As for seeing some of our church memebers going to places that sell beer and wine, well that is between them and God, but for me and my family we do not go to any resturants that sell beer or wine. If they had grocery stores that would stop selling the mess we would go there too, but they don’t, so what are we suppose to do? Not feed our families? God knows we hate the mess. If you are a Christian you would too. The Devil is for liquor, God is against it, which side are you on?
For Johncame neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. These words came from Jesus. Is drinking a sin? I dont think so considering Jesus was without sin. He also preformed a miracle with water, Ithink we all know about that one. I have yet to find in the bible the words sin and alcohol together. Whats the deal?
Again, to cavalier and others who are too coward to sign their name, the real issue here is not whether we are breaking some law,which I believe evidence will soon show is untrue, but the fact that we stand against what the Bible says is sin. We have never harassed voters or passed out fictitious material contrary to what is reported by you.
You say “An overwhelming majority of fatalities and incidents involving impaired drivers are due to a person leaving a party or a private home, not a restaurant.“ I agree, but if the ratio was 100 to 1, does the life of that “1” not matter. I’m sure it does to him/her and their family and friends.
You say “My parent CHOSE to drink which ultimately led to their death”, and that, “It happened because a person made a bad choice and had nothing to do with availability of a mixed drink in a restaurant.“ Maybe so, but you do agree that it was a “bad choice”. A wise man once said, “the best way to never become a drunk is to never to take the first drink.“
I sir, do not eat at establishments that sell alcohol of any kind, and I make a conscious effort to avoid other businesses that sell it when I possibly and reasonably can. I have never been to Myrtle Beach nor do I ever plan to go.
We do not need liquor to attract business. Asheboro is in a dry county (no alcohol at all) and they have many nice restaurants and motels. You say that, “This is the way of the world and that’s just the way it is.“ The Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.“ (1 John 2:15-17)
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, other than Christ, warned his children and those of us who would later read his writings, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.“ (Proverbs 20:1) On May 6th the deceived and unwise will be voting FOR. - Identify yourself!
Just like you can surf the web and NOT partake in porn, you can eat in a restaurant and NOT partake in the alcohol.
Is there anything in the Bible about the Internet? Because if the Internet is rife with the evils of pornography, I would think you all would be against the Internet…but obviously not, you’re on it. Somehow I’m surprised. Evils like pornography seem like something you would be vehemently opposed to - and yet I don’t see Westside congregation members shunning the Internet as they would an alcohol-serving restaurant. I would have thought Brother Paul would be against his church members using the Internet service since at any moment something pornographic could be viewed in your home under the cloak of darkness and anonymity. Gosh, you could even accidentally stumble upon some pornography while not meaning to.
Just for my own clarification - does Westside Baptist Church members patronize Wal-Marts, Food Lions, Harris Teeters, convenience stores? Where do you buy your prescriptions? Where do you fill up your gas tanks? I’m only asking you to clarify the double-standard. Is it okay to patronize beer and wine selling establishments, but just not mixed beverage establishments? Members have been seen in Rio Grande - psssst - they serve alcohol there. What’s the rules? Where do you draw the line? Really, I’m curious. Does anyone in your congregation work at an establishment that sells beer or wine as in a grocery store, retail store? What about smoking? Is smoking a sin? It causes death and destruction. In fact, the REAL and actual preventable cause of death in the U.S. is tobacco use - even though you like to stretch the truth (okay - outright lie) about the #1 Killer of Americans. Tobacco - what’s your stand on that? Do your congregation members smoke? Ever watched anyone die from lung cancer? I have. Do you visit restaurants where people are smoking and forcing their smoke into your lungs or mine even though I don’t choose to smoke? I don’t force anyone to drink - but plenty of smokers force me to breath their smoke. Look up the statistics of smoke related deaths, through smoking and second hand smoke. Where’s your crusade against smoking?
Better yet, where’s your help? Do you care about the homeless? Did you contribute one penny or one hour of your time to the Rockingham County Help for the Homeless Shelter over the winter? Did you participate in the Operation Inasmuch this past Saturday? Do you participate in the Hands of God? Rather than seeing your church name in the headlines for violating state laws, distributing falsehoods to the public, and plagiarizing copyrighted material, I await the day I see your church being lauded for being an advocate for the homeless or opening your minds and hearts to all walks of life without judging people, and participating in loving service to your community. It’s a sad day when a church’s notariety is breaking the law, spreading fictitious information, and stealing someone else’s copyrighted material and passing it off as their own.
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