Megachurch plans to form its own police force after controversial Alabama law passes – By David Matthews (New York Daily News) / June 22 2019
A newly signed law in Alabama will allow a Birmingham megachurch to establish its own police force.
Briarwood Presbyterian can “appoint and employ one or more suitable persons to act as police officers to protect the property of the school or academy” according to the law, which was approved by Gov. Kay Ivey.
The church said the extra security will help protect its members, including 2,000 students and faculty on its two campuses, from intruders.
However, the new law is controversial.
A similar bill was dropped by the state legislature because of the Presbyterian Church in America’s racist history.
Briarwood is part of the PCA, a conservative denomination, that apologized in 2016 for a number of “racial sins” including “the segregation of worshipers by race” and “the participation in and defense of white supremacist organizations.”
The failed bill and the newly passed one may also violate the Constitution’s Establishment Clause’s separation of church and state, according to the Alabama chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which called the law “a threat to our freedom of religion.”
“We expect this law to be challenged in the courts,” the ACLU added.
The law is expected to go into effect in the fall, after officers hired complete training certified by the state’s Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission.
This photo shows the sanctuary at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, in Birmingham, Ala. (Anthony Izaguirre/AP)
