Last November, Reverend Chan Chandler of the East Waynesville, North Carolina, Baptist Church told parishioners that John Kerry supporters should repent or leave. Now, nine former church members who say they've been expelled for their political beliefs are as mad as good Christians get, while Chandler skates around his lest-ye-be-judgemental behaviour.

Issues with Chandler's pro-Bush oratories had arisen in the past, but the situation hit a high-water mark when he invited all church members to a deacon's meeting and said anyone not wanting to be part of a "Republican church" should get out. When nine members left, Chandler held a vote that saw them banished.

As the story made its way to the press, talk of the church losing tax-exempt status for poking around in politics came to the fore. Chandler is now hiding behind a lawyer, saying the whole situation was a "great misunderstanding," and that no member was ever voted out of the church.

The nine are unimpressed by Chandler's backtracking and are considering their next course of action.

» Scott Saxon