Can Town’s Charter Include Scripture?

Christian leaders of an unincorporated town in northern Alabama hope to base its charter on the Ten Commandments and 17 other verses from the Bible.

Under the utopian plan, being proposed by 161 of the town’s 600 residents, Brooksville would be run by a group of trustees rather than a mayor or town council. No official would have the power to grant liquor licenses, issue building permits, rezone lands, or levy taxes. Community members would vote in churches.

The effort to incorporate the town is being led by lifelong resident James Henderson, a 56-year-old Pentecostal minister. “In Jesus’ time, people helped each other,” he says. “That sense of community is what we want to build here.”

But Henderson and his supporters have significant obstacles to overcome. “State laws on incorporation require a town to have a mayor and that issues be decided by a council,” says Joseph Kettler of the Alabama League of Municipalities.

Henderson is promoting state legislation that would allow every member of the town to have a voice in governing it. “I don’t think that they have a great chance of getting this legislation passed,” Kettler says.

Copyright © 1999 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Hungry for God: Special News Report: Tired of comfortable Christianity and longing for revival, millions of Christians are rediscovering the discipline of fasting. Surprisingly, teenagers are the most eager participants.

Cover Story

Hungry for God

Church Members Seek Asylum

Sword Drills and Stained Glass

The Last Deist

National Baptists' Lyons Convicted

Better Disability Access Urged

Y2K Boon to Missionary Supplier

State Capitol Rallies Scrubbed

Strict, Conservative Churches Growing

School Permits Abstinence Choice

In Brief: April 05, 1999

The Last Good War

Broadcasters Seek Partners Overseas

Apology Crusaders to Enter Israel

First Messianic Synagogue Built

The Selling of 'Miracle City'

Christ Is King—Lila Graves

Fear Not—Matt Lamb

Crucifix—Ian Pyper

Jesus—Mose Tolliver

Glory Be to God—Oswald Tschirtner

How Healthy Is Fasting?

Letters

Republican Candidates Court Conservatives Early Often

Partial-Birth Abortion: Legislative Bans Stymied in States

Besieged President Resigns

Dissidents Push Churches to Withhold Contributions

NAE Selects New President

Family Films Make Big Money

Editorial

Not a Fast Fix

What Would J. Christy Wilson Do?

Outside the Gate Outsider artists interpret the cross.

How Green Is Easter?

Can the Graham Anointing Be Passed?

Not Your Father's Evangelist

Angel in the Pulpit

Truth and Consequences in South Africa

Jesus Wasn’t a Pluralist

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from April 05, 1999

Did God Die on the Cross?

View issue

Our Latest

The Black Women Missing from Our Pews

America’s most churched demographic is slipping from religious life. We must go after them.

The Still Small Voice in the Deer Stand

Since childhood, each hunting season out in God’s creation has healed wounds and deepened my faith.

Play Those Chocolate Sprinkles, Rend Collective!

The Irish band’s new album “FOLK!” proclaims joy after suffering.

News

Wall Street’s Most Famous Evangelical Sentenced in Unprecedented Fraud Case

Judge gives former billionaire Bill Hwang 18 years in prison for crimes that outweigh his “lifetime” of “charitable works.”

Public Theology Project

How a Dark Sense of Humor Can Save You from Cynicism

A bit of gallows humor can remind us that death does not have the final word.

News

Died: Rina Seixas, Iconic Surfer Pastor Who Faced Domestic Violence Charges

The Brazilian founder of Bola de Neve Church, which attracted celebrities and catalyzed 500 congregations on six continents, faced accusations from family members and a former colleague.

Review

The Quiet Faith Behind Little House on the Prairie

How a sincere but reserved Christianity influenced the life and literature of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

‘Bonhoeffer’ Bears Little Resemblance to Reality

The new biopic from Angel Studios twists the theologian’s life and thought to make a political point.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube