Christian Exodus
Encyclopedia
Christian Exodus is a Christian
secessionist group. Initially, they attempted to organize a mass movement to South Carolina
and later Idaho. Currently, the goal of Christian Exodus has been to pull members together into micro-communities, through social networking, and encouraging its members to live through what it calls 'personal secession'.
has strayed from its founding vision.
A statement from their website reads:
, a 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. 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 encouraging the relocation of thousands of Christian families. The first city in South Carolina targeted was Anderson, South Carolina
. The group claims that some 15 families have relocated. In addition to South Carolina, the group announced in the Fall of 2007 that Christian Exodus supporters would also settle in Gem County, Idaho
. Some of their members are also moving to Panama.
Throughout 2004 Christian Exodus worked closely with the Southern nationalist League of the South
—for which Burnell was a former regional director—to build support in South Carolina, 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.
In late 2007 the group announced that a separate contingent in Idaho had been founded. 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, a former Congressional candidate. In the spring of 2008, Cory Burnell stepped down as head of the organization, citing his inability to find work in South Carolina, and subsequently Keith Humphrey became the Executive Director of the organization.
Christian Exodus and the Constitution Party share a number of members, especially in the former's leadership, and have co-authored a website called the "Save America Summit" which promotes Constitution Party Presidential candidates and Christian Separatist ideology.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
secessionist group. Initially, they attempted to organize a mass movement to South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and later Idaho. Currently, the goal of Christian Exodus has been to pull members together into micro-communities, through social networking, and encouraging its members to live through what it calls 'personal secession'.
Purpose and direction
According to their literature, Christian Exodus believes that the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
has strayed from its founding vision.
A statement from their website reads:
History and affiliations
Christian Exodus was modeled after the Free State ProjectFree State Project
The Free State Project is a political movement, founded in 2001, to recruit at least 20,000 libertarian-leaning people to move to New Hampshire in order to make the state a stronghold for libertarian ideas....
, a group that aims to relocate libertarians to New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. 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
Cory Burnell
Cory Burnell is a founding Director of the Calaveras County Taxpayers Association and the Calaveras county coordinator of the Campaign for Liberty. He was also a founding member of the Christian separatist group Christian Exodus and the former northeast Texas regional director of the League of the...
has aimed recruiting at an ideologically different segment of the population. 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 encouraging the relocation of thousands of Christian families. The first city in South Carolina targeted was Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
. The group claims that some 15 families have relocated. In addition to South Carolina, the group announced in the Fall of 2007 that Christian Exodus supporters would also settle in Gem County, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Some of their members are also moving to Panama.
Throughout 2004 Christian Exodus worked closely with the Southern nationalist League of the South
League of the South
The League of the South is a Southern nationalist organization, headquartered in Killen, Alabama, which states that its ultimate goal is "a free and independent Southern republic." The group defines the Southern United States as the states that made up the former Confederacy...
—for which Burnell was a former regional director—to build support in South Carolina, 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
Cory Burnell
Cory Burnell is a founding Director of the Calaveras County Taxpayers Association and the Calaveras county coordinator of the Campaign for Liberty. He was also a founding member of the Christian separatist group Christian Exodus and the former northeast Texas regional director of the League of the...
still resides in California despite his own earlier efforts to relocate.
In late 2007 the group announced that a separate contingent in Idaho had been founded. 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, a former Congressional candidate. In the spring of 2008, Cory Burnell stepped down as head of the organization, citing his inability to find work in South Carolina, and subsequently Keith Humphrey became the Executive Director of the organization.
Christian Exodus and the Constitution Party share a number of members, especially in the former's leadership, and have co-authored a website called the "Save America Summit" which promotes Constitution Party Presidential candidates and Christian Separatist ideology.
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
- Abandoned SC movement
- Christian Exodus leader steps down
- May 2010 CNN article