A small town Christmas parade is making headlines across the country because of its mandatory “declaration of faith” for all parade participants.
The Cookeville-Putnam County Christmas Parade in Cookeville, Tennessee is an annual holiday tradition beloved by residents. But this year the parade is a little different, and what was in years past an event hosted by the city’s Chamber of Commerce is now being put on by two local churches - and they want to ensure that everyone participating in the parade is doing so on their terms.
Christians Only
The controversy over the parade began spreading when The Tennessee Holler posted the required statement of faith on X (formerly Twitter). The lengthy statement is included in the parade application, and all parade applicants are required to sign the statement of faith in order to receive approval to participate in the festivities.
While some of the required statements are fairly standard Christian beliefs - belief in the holy spirit, the virgin birth, eternal salvation, and so on - others touch on controversial hot-button political issues.
“We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person biological male or female,” reads one section.
“We believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological persons made for each other,” reads another part. Parade applicants had to agree that "marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female."
It wasn't just anti-LGBTQ messaging parade participants were required to sign, but also anti-abortion sentiment as well. "We believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end," reads one part.
Outrage quickly spread online over those two sections in particular, with many wondering why parade participants would need to cosign anti-transgender, anti-same-sex marriage and anti-abortion beliefs in the first place.
The Backlash Begins
The pledge was viewed hundreds of thousands of times online, and officials from both Cookeville and Putnam County were quick to confirm that they weren’t involved in the parade, nor its controversial pledge. The city of Cookeville issued a statement washing their hands of the parade, saying the event was now in the hands of two local churches - Life Church and The River Community Church.
“The City had nothing to do with the handoff to this group and still has nothing to do with the production or operation of the Christmas parade,” reads a post on the city of Cookeville’s official Facebook page. “The private group simply applied for a temporary street closure for a parade, as any other private group is permitted to do and as any kind of parade-type event requires.”
But the city’s attempt to shirk responsibility only stoked flames further, prompting hundreds of angry responses on the post.
“What a disgusting cop out of a statement,” wrote one commenter. “The city has every ability to not let this be discriminatory but they’re choosing not to. What a shame on the city of Cookeville. This is why people are turning away from church as well.”
“The Christmas parade is not what’s controversial,” wrote another. “The bigoted, hateful language in the entry form is what’s controversial.”
Parade Restored
A week later, the backlash showed no signs of slowing down - the local PBS affiliate WCTE pledged not to cover the event, and residents mounted a fundraising campaign for an alternative “inclusive holiday parade” to take place around the same time.
But the city just announced that they’re actually taking control of the parade back from the two churches, and that the controversial Christian pledge will no longer be required for parade hopefuls. They've even hired one of the organizers of the alternative inclusive parade to the parade committee to ensure all feel welcome to attend and participate in the parade.
But is the damage already done? The churches putting on the parade for the city clearly felt like there was nothing wrong with promoting biblical values during a parade celebrating a Christian holiday. But the strong backlash in Cookeville and beyond proves that many disagreed that excluding the LGBTQ+ community is the reason for the season, and that the holidays should remain apolitical.
What is your response?
61 comments
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Dane
Anytime churches decide to grandstand like this, I am always reminded of Matthew 6:5.
"When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get."
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Colleen McAllister
A sad sign of out times post Trump. The permits should have never been granted
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High Priestess Vega
F it. If they want to run more people off from Christianity and the church, go right ahead. Let them do it. Go make your own celebration. Who would want to be around people who think like this to start with???? Also, remember, unless you are ultra rich, the internet is forever and people don’t forget.
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CB Cuff
I don't think Santa would approve. How would parents explain to their children that Santa was a no-show? Boo!
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Danny D. Maynard
Of course, you mean Pagan Santa Claus!
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Russel A. Kester
Sounds like democracy worked. The counties made a bad decision to handover the festivities held on behalf of the entire community to two churches with foreseeable issues. Then the community spoke out and it was rectified.
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James Mounts
Right on Russel, I felt the same after reading the article. In the end, the system worked as designed.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Keep your religion out of my bedroom and we’ll be fine!
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Brian Lee Johnson
The keep your bedroom in your bedroom, not in the streets, not in the schools , not in public for children to see.
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Danny D. Maynard
It seems to me that this smacks as a sure violation of the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution, whereby the government is declaring that participants in a sanctioned event requires one to be Christian. This also smacks of government-sanctioned coercion as well. This is one step closer to a fascist-led takeover of the government at all levels.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
You would be absolutely right except...you're not. You should have read the entire story instead of stopping at 'personally outraged'. Among other things, you would have discovered that the parade was being organized by two churches and THEY were the ones who get to decide who marches and who doesn't
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Russel A. Kester
Danny, your concerns about religious freedom and government overreach are understandable, but your argument appears to be based on misconceptions and exaggerations.
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Michael Burton
I hope it rains on their parade.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Why??? A declaration of faith? People of all faiths enjoy participating in and attending a Christmas Parade. Spoiling it by requiring a declaration of faith will only drive people away. Is that what they really want for the Christmas season? Everyone of every faith knows why Christmas is celebrated by Christians. Is it necessary to rob those who won't sign the pledge of the joy of the season? Get real, people! To thine own self be true.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
I think the biggest issue in America is a lack of reading comprehension. People here are being outraged, quoting the constitution, etc and failing to understand the facts of the matter (not the least of which the issue was settled and it has gone back to an everyone-is-welcome-to-participate parade) which is the parade was being put on/paid for by two churches and yes Virginia, the DO get to decide who marches and who rolls a float. Their checkbook, their party.
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Russel A. Kester
JJ, your point is valid and your criticism of those who feel outraged is fair. I think this is the second time we've agreed..
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Dan Anderson
If this parade is located on private property ONLY, then a profession of faith is fine. If one is going to go in public with this 'operation', then it is unconstitutional.
If it is an issue of Christmas being a Christian celebration only, then you need to realize that Christmas is celebrated by people of many religions as well as agnostic and agnostic. Many department stores and other businesses in Japan celebrate Christmas. Remember that a grand total of 1.6% of the population of Japan are Christian. (Yes, Buddhists also participate in Christian.
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Russel A. Kester
Dan, how is a parade put on by Christians any different than gay parades? Both are organizations holding parades in public streets after securing the proper permits.
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Dan Anderson
Does a Gay Pride parade require participants to sign a profession of faith?
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Reverend Paula Copp
As a proud member of the LGBTQIA community, I would like to know what a secular gay pride parade has in common with a bigoted church event. We gays don’t have to sign anything but a signup form. The only similarity between religious parades and gay pride parades is the fact that they’re both parades…
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Russel A. Kester
Dan, you comment purposefully tries to reframe my comment wherein I noted that both organizations are required to obtain permits to hold a parade. Whether they require loyalty oaths or not is a red herring.
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Dan Anderson
Russel - The difference is that the Christian Christmas Parade demands all participants sign the declaration of faith. The Pride Parade does not sign a declaration that they are, indeed, gay, or otherwise.
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Brian Lee Johnson
I agree 100 percent. We all know what scripture says about homosexuality, here is the easiest way to know if you are doing the right thing no matter what the subject is, if it goes against scripture then it is wrong, period, end of discussion, so much immorality now , gods wrath will be brought down on these sinners and the ones who accepted these sinners. It's your eternity that's at stake, gods word is gods word, he doesn't change his mind or let certain groups bend the rules, your worldly pleasures are going to seal your fate for eternity, so it doesn't matter if society accepts your immorality, god will not, and into the pit you go .
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Dan Anderson
Brian - Maybe you have not studied academically your own Bible, however what you think it says may not be what really happens to be.
'If it goes against scripture then it is wrong' is interesting. The Bible instructs people how to treat slaves. So how many slaves do you own?
Wearing clothing with two different materials is a sin, right? Yet I know nobody who is punished for doing so.
How about killing your own brother because he does not believe as you do? Are you aware that the killing of apostates is not even in the Qur'an, but in the Bible?
Are you thinking that the story of Sodom and Gammorah was about homosexuality? It wasn't. It was about rape and inhospitality. God even warned them beforehand.
Romans 1:26-30 supposedly claims about homosexuality being sinful, however, if you knew the historicity of Paul's writings, you would know that he was writing about his observations of an ancient pagan ceremony to the goddess Diana for improved crops and increased calvings & lambings. This ritual would work the crowds up to where, at the end of the 'services', it ended up in an orgy. It was not about two people of the same gender who loved each other.
There are many more examples of how you misunderstand your own religion. Good luck in your condemnation of others, instead of loving them by order of your own Rabbi, Jesus.
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Chris Woodward
I assume the parade was initially being paid by the churches involved, but I am not aware of how it was funded and organized. Nonetheless, if paid and organized by the churches, then it is within their rights to decide who can attend. However, this is only viable under the conditions that the parade happen within confined areas controlled by those churches. Extending the parade into public space, and/or using public funds to pay for the event, means involving those with differing beliefs. At which point this act becomes one of force and self-righteousness. It can be broadly simplified by saying that all acts of wrongdoing are either selfish or foolish. Whether your belief is true or false (stated as such because I know of nobody who has a confirmable direct interaction with a supreme being), forcing your belief system on others is selfish. It also causes disgust in others witnessing the event. This turns them away from what could otherwise be a valid faith system. Thus, forcing your beliefs on others is also foolish. But their reasoning is likely the most damnable. Their requirements indicate that they are intending to invalidate the existence of anyone who does not fit into their beliefs. Jesus stopped people from stoning a prostitute by pointing out that those attempting the act are not without sin. These churches act as if they are trying to bring stoning back into favor because their faith (or willful ignorance as defined by another poster) makes them superior to all others. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Those who do evil in God's name will not go unpunished. God wants people to come unto him by choice, not by force. It is proper to teach belief through wisdom. It is an act of evil to do otherwise. So, unless you can throw a mountain into the ocean, pass on your beliefs with the humility God requires.
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Cheryl Anne Hamm
Comment removed by user.
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Chris Woodward
If I'm not misunderstanding, you're saying that, like TV, we can choose to ignore what we don't want to see or hear. While that may be true, I believe the issue is not the protected freedom for hate speech, but that the hate speech exists. Certainly, they have the constitutional right to say hateful things. But having the right to do something doesn't mean one has the moral righteousness to do it. Even if this parade was performed on their property with their money, it still casts a dark shadow across all Christian churches. Those that turn away from the speech out of disgust will also turn away from all churches for the association. This doesn't mean something shouldn't be said if it isn't what people want to hear, though. The truth is often disliked. But I don't know of any hate centric diatribe that has foundational basis in truth. Its primary rhetoric is personal opinion, often brought about by confirmational bias and the desire to cast blame rather than taking responsibility.
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Valerie Zenobia Haughton
God gave Adam and Eve freedom of choice believing in him he's not to be coerced. They just use this opportunity to advance their churches believe. Even though I believe in each one of those. The Christmas celebration should be a community event and if they want to be curious December 25th is not Jesus's birthday and Christmas is not a Christian holiday it has Pagan roots. If you love me keep my Commandments.
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Lionheart
It’s amazing that there are some people who still believe in the Adam and Eve fable isn’t it? I bet they still believe in a talking Ass and a talking Snake. 🤭
🦁❤️
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Brian Lee Johnson
I bet you like talking to snakes
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Lionheart
There could be some on here, especially those that like to talk to walls, floors, and/or ceilings under the pretext of thinking they will get a reply back. 🤭
Thank you for your reply, Sir.
🦁❤️
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Kenneth Kling
Lionheart ..... You appear to have your slate of beliefs? Why publicly mock those who chose something else?
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Lionheart
My beliefs are based on logic, reason, factual evidence (or lack of), and critical thought, Sir Kenneth. My comments are to possibly help those that are wondering if they have been conned into religion by religious indoctrination. If it helps some to question what they have been taught to believe I see that as being very healthy. It’s amazing how many suffer from Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) who need help. Thank you for your meaningful comment. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Rev. BH
As you may know, the early expanding church saw it more beneficial to plonk their new holidays on top of older Pagan holidays and thus have a pre-established celebratory audience, hoping the Pagans would switch rather than fight. Most of these were ancient seasonal occurrences relating to the solstices and equinoxes. The spring equinox was celebrated by pagans with a holiday called Ostara, which honors the rebirth of nature, and the return of warmth and light. Thus, the selected return of Christ from the dead. The winter solstice (Yule)marked the beginning of longer daylight, the return of the sun and aptly became the return of the Son, Christ’s birth, or Christmas. (No reference in the bible designates Christ’s actual birthdate.) Saint Nicholas morphed into the fictional Santa Claus. Therefore, requiring spiritual acceptance to participate in a Pagan solar holiday in honor of a created gift giving jolly old elf, is nonsense.
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James Manley
To be a follower of Jesus Christ requires certain behaviours to be refrained from which seems to be where this pastor is coming from. To attend a public parade does not require you to be a follower of Jesus. In fact it should be used as a way to spread the good news to those who don't believe and they should be welcomed to join in. Inside the church or chapel is one thing, outside is something else. If you want to be a Christian then behave like one. If you don't want to be a Christian keep out of the churches and chapels. Please don't try and amalgamate two systems of belief or both are doomed to fail,
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Carly Beth Carmichael
Why Can't So-Called "Christians" Look Torwards Emmanuel's (Jesus) Exploits About Helping EVERYONE... EQUALLY; Even Going So-Far As To Washing OTHERS Dirty Feet and NOT Asking For "Tithe", To Which He Even Flipped Over Tables and Said: "NOT in MY Father's House!" As WE ARE ALL Kindred Bretheren! NO ONE IS ABOVE ANYONE ELSE!!
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Teresa Freeman
Why are churches in bed with a pagan holiday, Jesus said at the last supper , This do in Remembrance of me, communion and the acceptance that Jesus shed His blood for all mankind that has the seal of God , Jesus was born in September , due to priesthood time line , Elizabeth conceived in June ,after the eighth course was completed ,ary conceived in December , so let the sinners cause more division among each other , we are to have faith ,resistance and Grace
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Kenneth Kling
In bed with a Pagan belief? Didn't anyone every celebrate your birthday? I think it has to do with an "Event" whatever the timeline and the coming together of community and fellowship among the Believers of a Faith?
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Robert A Stiff
There is no greater degree of hate than in "christian love".
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Kevin Venteicher
always was one for the holidays prayers too all of you
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Well, the US seems to now have a clear majority of religiously delusional, cognitively challenged, backwoods Billy Bob types to elect Trump so I expect there will be more of this nonsense in the news.
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Kenneth Kling
Ahhhhhhhh! FINALLY! YES!!!!!! - TRUMP DID IT! I was beginning to get worried. We can't have a discussion on the merits of the actions taken by others as to whether those actions may or may not be wrong on their face .... A particular bend of humanity can't proceed without blaming the whole thing on DJT. Talk about "cognitively delusional ......" It doesn't appear to be religious in nature either ........
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Ari Joseph Bertine
I just wonder how anyone finds this surprising. Of course they would pull a stunt like this. They're allowed, so they will. And sadly, hate is no longer surprising in the least from churches, but rather a given.
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Kenneth Kling
This statement appears to be all inclusive. "Churches?" I'd like to think that there still are a majority of people who follow a scripture-based doctrine and can refrain from politics creeping into their practices?
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Jerry M Choat
God's word commands us to celebrate the Memorial of Jesus death, not his birth. Read {Luke 2219
So Christians need to celebrate what the Bible command and not go beyond the written word.
Also Jesus never celebrated his birthday with his disciples, and he said to imitate him.
{Ecclesiastes 7:1 says: “A good name is better than good oil, and the day of death is better than the day of birth”
So quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves what is the acceptable and perfect will of God {Romans 12:2
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Kenneth Kling
I read the Bible to gain insight on the thoughts and actions of that time. I've given leeway to one "Book Author" or another. I've taken care to ponder the message vs. rotely memorizing a series of words so as to impress someone that I've got a good memory. I've often given thought to the idea that the Bible is a fairly well written "Operations Manual to Humankind" Freedom of thought and choice was involved as well?
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Rev Ned
Christo-Fascists
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Dan Anderson
I remember even as a child growing up, I was taught that Christianity is an INclusive community. Sadly, it seems to be quite the opposite. It is, by all signs, an EXclusive one. That is quite the different perspective than what the Rabbi Jesus taught.
To put it in the most basic terms:
Come on, Christian extremists/wanna-be specials! Get off of your emotional high-horses. You are an embarrassment to your tribe/clique/club. You are an embarrassment.
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Rev Jules Henry Hilliard
Rain rain, go away, come back on parade day.
After all people, a parade is or is supposed to be a public event. Lots of people observe if, christian and non-christian alike. .Even, Macys, and Sears, and Gimbles, Need I go on ?
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Danny D. Maynard
You minimize my argument unnecessarily.
These types of stories will become more prevalent if Project 2025 becomes the agenda of the USA. Churches having hate rhetoric cloaked behind awords such as "Christian values" is dangerous, divisive and not at all Christian like.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 "𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻" 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽. 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗳 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.
Phew! I was beginning to get worried ........ But, true to form it didn't take long to work DJT into the conversation. And BTB ..... It's FAST FORWARD TIME ....... HE DID GET BACK IN! I think it was the Lib's who first villainized the word "Christian?"
Pastor Xal, overall, your comment is poorly written and lacks substance. It fails to provide any evidence to support your claims and relies on generalizations and subjective opinions.
russ you know that that's bs. you've been shown links, there are plenty of sources that do indeed highlight kkkrs chn nationalist movements to theocratize the US.
once again and against the ULC rules, you attack the writer, stating his comment is "...poorly written and lacks substance..." how many times have you made statements with absolutely no support to your 'claims'. what you are doing in fact, is taking down to Pastor Xal and attempting to 'put him in his place' by claiming he fails to meet certain rules you make (and fail to meet as well).
just shame on you, you really owe Pastor Xal an apology and maybe one to the rest of us for your condescending manner to all you disagree with
JJ, I believe a fair reading of my comment shows that I didn't attack Pastor Xal at all. It did assess the ideas in his comment which is exactly what the guidelines direct is to do. It says to criticize ideas, not people. You seem to be saying that criticizing people's ideas is the same as attacking them. Is that what you're saying? If not, then could you be clearer on what you see as the difference between the two?
Why the heck should we fairly read your comments when you don’t fairly read other comments you’re replying to Kester?
I always wondered what "the pot calling the kettle black" meant. Since reading Rev. Dr. Father JJ's comments to russ it is now clear. Extreme instance of projection!
or in your case, pseudo-psychoanalysis. kkkris chn much?
𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗲𝘁𝗰 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗳𝗳, 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻 , 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼.
It seems that the idea that you can control a weak mind is playing out true. Project 2025 was nothing more than a "What If" paper written by a Think Tank. Lib's hijacked the study title and have emblazoned it on their frontal cortex?