Letter to Executive Presbyter Charleston Atlantic Presbyterian USA Church

In terms of frequency, the Presbyterian USA Church is third for hosting the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) since 1990 and also for hosting the SCV and the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) combined. See web page http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/churchesoftheconfederacy.htm for bar graphs and maps and tables.

Just two other denominations have hosted the SCV since 1990. The Lutherans did once in 2000 and the Disciples of Christ did in 2003. The four denominations I have written have hosted the SCV multiple times.

                                                                                                1/14/2014

                                                                                                esebesta@tx.rr.com

Donnie R. Woods

Executive Presbyter

Charleston Atlantic Presbyter

2421 Ashley River Road

Charleston, SC 29414-4601

Dear Mr. Woods:

The Presybterian Church USA is the third most frequent host for neo-Confederate organization national convention memorial services from 1990 to 2013. I enclose a bar graph of denominations which host the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) and a map of churches which host either the SCV or the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).  These documents can also be found online at www.templeofdemocracy.com/churchesoftheconfederacy.htm.

The SCV is planning on holding their 2014 convention in Charleston, SC and they will be looking for church facilities to hold their convention service. Enclosed is a table of churches which the SCV conventions have used in the 21^st century.

The SCV is a racist and extremist group. Their official literature compares Abraham Lincoln to Hitler, and praises and promotes books that defend slavery and books that laud the Ku Klux Klan. Please find enclosed a dossier on the SCV with detailed footnotes of all quotes and assertions. This dossier is also available online at http://www.blackcommentator.com/526/526_confederacy_sebesta_guest_share.html .

Additionally, I enclose a paper on Confederate Christian nationalism which is also online at

http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/ConfederateChristianNationalism.pdf. It was published by the Canadian Review of American Studies at the University of Toronto. Even though the article is about the neo-Confederate League of the South, the religious ideas promoted by the SCV Chaplains Corps (http://www.scv.org/about/chaplainsChronicle.php) are largely the same or similar. I also enclose a copy of my academic resume which is online at www.templeofdemocracy.com/resume.htm.

When a church allows the SCV to use their facilities it gives them credibility that a prominent religious organizations would find the SCV to be an organization to which it would be acceptable to lend their facilities. Additionally they gain some of the prestige of the religious organization and the prestige of an architecturally prominent church building for their religious services and hence organization.

I ask that the Presbyterian Church USA not give support to the Sons of Confederate Veterans organization by allowing them to use your facilities for their activities.

                                                                                                Sincerely Yours,

                                                                                                Edward H. Sebesta