Speakers, Not Christian Enough, Tell City That Parade is a Warning Sign

Brian Ernst and Tarah Dunlop.

Local entertainer Brian Ernst said all he wanted to do was to march shoulder-to-shoulder with his Christian brothers at the Christian Heritage parade on June 29.

But parade organizers at the First Baptist Church denied him access.

Tarah Dunlop, a successful beachfront hotel owner, wanted to become a sponsor of the event, but then she read the event's "statement of shared convictions" that is required to be signed by every participant. The statement blocked her participation.

"I felt saddened and concerned when I read the required Statement of Faith. The very narrow definition of Christianity excluded me and my business from sponsorship," Dunlop told city commissioners Tuesday. "I, as a divorced person (according to the statement), am not the correct type of Christian to participate in this event."

Dunlop told commissioners that after researching the event, she found it was being coordinated by the nationally funded operative group Citizens Defending Freedom.

"(This is a group) that is designated by a nationally recognized organization as a hate group, operating nationwide in the same capacity," she said. "This is not the Fernandina Christian community I know. We exist with differing values, yet have always afforded one another in the freedom to worship as we chose. I am saddened by this event, and hope that every member of our faith community chooses to keep moving forward in unity and respect. Not, the exclusionary spirit of this event."

Ernst, who performs regularly at downtown restaurants and bars, went so far as to go to the First Baptist Church on Eighth Street to learn why he was being denied participation in the parade.

"I asked (why I couldn't participate) because I don't have to agree with all of my neighbors' beliefs to walk side-by-side with them," Ernst said. "Their answer was no."

Ernst warned that the Christian Heritage event anoints First Baptist Church as the community gatekeeper of who is and who is not Christian enough to participate in the parade.

"It keeps out proud Christian Americans like myself and others in our community," Ernst said.

He cautioned that the event was the beginning of Christian nationalism at the local level.

"Me getting rejected from the public square is just the tip of the iceberg," Ernst said.

No commissioners responded to the two speakers.

Just 90 minutes earlier, Mayor Bradley Bean read the city's Christian Heritage proclamation with many members of the First Baptist Church in attendance.

The proclamation in part reads:

"WHEREAS, learning about the influence of Christian heritage on American institutions and values is important and meaningful to peoples of all faiths, just as learning about the heritage of other faiths is important and meaningful to Christians."