City Denies Cross, Miss. Law Forbids Church's Plan

The First Baptist Church of Brandon, Mississippi wants to allow the non-profit Crosses Across America (CAA) to build a $100,000 cross 110 feet tall on its property so it can be seen from 92,000 cars per day on I-20, but the city has denied the permit by blaming state law -- a law the city proposes to violate.

“It wouldn’t be built on city property, wouldn’t cost the city or its citizens a cent; yet, it is denied.”
-- Doris Alexander, member of First Baptist Church

For background, read Neighbor Disturbed by Cross on the Hill, Complains to State and also read Town Allows 'Signs for Jesus' after Lawsuit as well as Supreme Court Says No Crosses - Does that mean Arlington Also?

-- From "Planning panel rejects 110-foot cross in Brandon" by The Associated Press 9/4/13

Mayor Butch Lee said he objects to the cross because it is considered an auxiliary structure, limited by state law to a height of 20 feet.

First Baptist Pastor Scott Thomas said the city has offered to allow a 50-foot cross.

The Board of Alderman will vote on the proposal on Sept. 16.

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From "Brandon planning board rejects 110-foot cross" by Terricha Bradley-Phillips, The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS) 9/4/13

The Rev. Scott Thomas, pastor of First Baptist, said the Federal Aviation Administration and the Mississippi Department of Transportation already had signed off on the plan. The church, he said, has been working almost two years with CAA, which has more than 2,000 clusters of crosses in 29 states and two foreign countries.

Thomas said some commissioners said they believe in the purpose of the cross but felt it should be smaller in height.

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From "Mississippi Town Objects to Church’s Giant Cross" by Todd Starnes, FoxNews.com 9/4/13

[Rev. Thomas] said the “Cross at Brandon” would also be used for multi-denominational gatherings, choral performances and outdoor weddings.

He said he suspects there’s more to their objections than just the size of the cross.

“They asked other questions that indicate to me that there’s something else that concerns them,” he said. “They asked, ‘what if the Muslims, the Buddhists want to build a sign?’”

But Mayor Lee said the planning commission’s decision has nothing to do with Muslims or non-Christians.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.