Local church leaders and leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties do not expect East Waynesville Baptist’s schism to increase the divide between the parties.

“Politically we go at each other, but when it comes to worship it’s a different thing,” said Nancy Fish, Haywood County’s Democratic chairwoman.

If anything, they say the incident may facilitate an open discussion of the relationship between religion and politics, potentially breaking down public perception of the Republican party as “God’s party” and evening out each party’s arsenals in the religious turf wars.

“Apparently, both Republicans and Democrats think this is wrong, being that overtly political,” said Rev. Raleigh Covin, a Democrat and semi-retired Presbyterian pastor. “I think that is crossing the line even as far as Baptists go.”

Though details of what exactly transpired at a board of deacons meeting are unclear and several statements have been made indicating there has been a great misunderstanding, the gist of the issue is that after months of Rev. Chan Chandler’s reportedly politically laden sermons, church leaders ousted nine members for refusing to support the pastor.

“My first reaction was just to be very sad about it,” said Rev. Lyn Sorrells, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. “I know the hurt that has to cause among a lot of long-time members and long-time friends.”

While this particular church may be mixing religion and politics, the Republican Party is not looking to ban participants based on their religious views, said Jeff Norris, Haywood County’s Republican party chairman, an attorney, ordained Baptist minister and deacon at First Baptist Church in Waynesville.

“From the Republican standpoint, we don’t have a litmus test of anyone who wants to join or participate in the party,” Norris said. “We certainly are not going to tell people they can not participate.”

The incident has given way to national media attention and heated debates about the doctrine of separation between church and state.

Sorrells said his church — one of the more progressive centers of worship in town — focuses not on politics, but on God.

“I believe it’s inappropriate to address political issues. I believe it’s inappropriate to indicate there’s any endorsement of a political candidate,” Sorrells said. “There are good Christian people on either side of any issue.”

Rev. Howard White, rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Waynesville, agreed.

“This guy Chandler has made a general sweep,” White said.

And vice versa with political affiliation, said Norris.

“Just like with Baptist churches, you can’t make broad sweeping generalizations about Republicans,” Norris said.

Abortion and homosexuality have traditionally blurred the lines between politics and religion. These two issues are at the crux of any modern discussion about the separation of church and state. For some it is an issue of faith — that if their religion is against it, their ballots must be cast for those who are also against it. Legally speaking, this particular interspersing of religion and politics is fine.

“Separation of church and state was to keep government from influencing the church, but not to keep the church from influencing the government,” said Jason Ledford, pastor at Dellwood Baptist in Waynesville.

The rights established by the First Amendment — written on the heels of escaping an overbearing Church of England — were created to prevent the government from interfering with religion.

“People in this country have the right to practice their freedom of religion without fear and have the freedom to vote without fear,” said David Wijewickrama, the attorney representing the nine East Waynesville Baptist members who were voted off the church’s membership rolls.

However, religion has always influenced politics.

“A lot of people go to church and a lot of people are going to talk about politics, so those obviously are going to mix somewhat,” said Gibbs Knotts, assistant professor in Western Carolina University’s department of political science and public affairs.

For example, in the 1960s during Robert Kennedy’s run for presidency, the Baptist church — then preaching separation of church and state — spoke out against the Catholic candidate.

“They said the Catholic Church and the Pope would tell him how to do his job,” Covin said.

Religion also has served as a catalyst for the government’s role in social policies, such as during the Civil Rights movement.

“I think you can go back and look through history, especially American history, and see different areas in which the viewpoint of the church regarding certain social issues had impact,” said George Freeman, general secretary of the World Methodist Council headquartered at Lake Junaluska.

Even so, religion and politics may not always reconcile along party lines. While one party may stand against abortion and homosexuality, that party may also stand for war, which is as great a moral issue as any other, Covin said.

“When you baptize one particular party as being God’s party, you’re in danger of sanctifying a whole lot of things that aren’t very holy,” he said.