OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — Public comments at public meetings held by the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners often come back to a solid foundation: faith.
“If God is for us, who can be against us,” said one resident, referencing the book of Romans during a Jan. 10, 2023, commissioners meeting.
This comment – and others like it – drew criticism, however.
“I like your Jesus. I don’t like your Christians,” said another, recalling Gandhi. “They’re so not like your Jesus.”
Nearly half of the residents of Ottawa County, a devout collection of agricultural and lakeside communities, adhere to a religion (44%), according to 2020 U.S. Religion Census data.
When the Ottawa Impact came to power, the deeply held beliefs of some faithful proved to be political problems for others. Marked by its quick takeover of the county commission, the conservative political action committee has stoked divisions in the traditionally red county, separating not only Republicans from Democrats but also Christians from Christians.
Deeply religious, divided: Ottawa Impact and Christians in their county
A new order
On January 10, 2023, Rev. Bart Spencer opened the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting with prayer.
“I’m proud of you, guys,” Spencer said, standing in front of a packed house. “Let us go to the Lord now.”
The previous week, the newly elected commission – led by Ottawa Impact founder Joe Moss – fired its administrator, demoted its health officer and dismantled the diversity department.
“Ottawa County has been the signal county — we may be a little biased, Father — but the signal county of this state,” Spencer said.
Ilène Gould, FOX 17
Pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Holland, Spencer made a name for himself during the pandemic, telling his congregants to get COVID and “get it over with.”
“What I preach from here, I’m going to preach,” he said in an interview with FOX 17, mentioning several times that he was “not angry” at those who are not d agree with him.
“There has to be a vanguard somewhere in the growing secular culture (that) is moving further and further away from Christianity,” Spencer said.
The combination of faith and conservative politics that Spencer – a self-described “born-again Christian” – brings to the pulpit, he sees similarly in Ottawa Impact.
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With a signature “Soli Deo Gloria” (Latin meaning “Glory to God Alone”), OI-approved commissioners sign a contractwhich refers to America’s “Judeo-Christian heritage” and calls the country an “exceptional nation blessed by God.”
Separately, the Ottawa Republican Party passed a resolution the previous year declaring 2023 to be the year Year of the Biblerecognizing a “national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.”
The rhetoric of faith, family and freedom resonated with conservative Christians, including some who elevated the commissioners to a biblical and divinely appointed status.
“Likewise, the authority over which you preside has been delegated to you by Christ,” a resident said during a meeting on January 24, 2023.
The same day, another compared criticism of the Ottawa Impact to Noah’s mockery before the flood.
“Even if the world laughs, continue to serve God, continue to trust Jesus, continue to seek the truth,” she said.
The specter of Christian nationalism
For Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, professor of history at Calvin UniversityThe political style of the Ottawa Impact is typical of Christian nationalism.
“In a very general sense, it means that America was founded as a Christian nation and must be defended as such,” Du Mez said, linking the Ottawa Contract to ideology.
Beyond a broad definition, she says it’s difficult to diagnose.
“As academics, we talk about a spectrum,” Du Mez said. “There are so many Americans who fall somewhere in between.”
Although patriots of God and country may be “harmless” and Christo-fascists pose a “threat to democracy,” both can be considered forms of Christian nationalism, she says.
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“It means all kinds of things to all kinds of people,” Du Mez said.
Those who adhere to Christian nationalism can also provoke internal religious struggles in ways that are “incredibly disruptive to our civil society.”
“If you are with us, you are on God’s side. If you are against us, you are our enemies and you are God’s enemies,” Du Mez said, resuming the speech.
On its website, Ottawa Impact calls accusations of Christian nationalism “simply the latest affront in terms of terms and smear of convenience” and a “national strategy” applied to a “bastion of conservative thought.”
“Am I a Christian nationalist? By definition, yes,” said the Rev. Bart Spencer. “I believe everyone should be a Christian and I believe America should come first.”
The pastor claims the word has been twisted to vilify Republicans who vote for their values.
“Define your terms and you’re not going to intimidate me with name calling,” Spencer said. “As Christians, we must be the best citizens. We are not doormats either.”
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Seeking justice, loving mercy
In late September, believers once again filled the Ottawa County board room, pleading with commissioners not to cut a food program from the Department of Health’s budget.
“What would Jesus have done?” He told us to feed the poor,” one woman said.
“You state that your goal is to align with God’s Word, but your actions betray that every time,” another resident said.
For Rev. Gordon Wiersma, the desire to see affordable housing and diversity led him further into the political realm.
“We talk about doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God,” he said, referring to the book of Micah.
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The pastor of Hope Church in Holland, Wiersma has joined the Coalition of Unifying Christians of Ottawa in response to Ottawa Impact.
“We felt it was very important that there be a different voice in Ottawa County that expresses a different Christian perspective,” Wiersma said.
A total of 39 pastors and 455 people have joined the group, which does not support political candidates but rather supports policies that “benefit all of our neighbors.”
On its website, the coalition also specifically condemns Ottawa Impact’s rhetoric: “We reject the idea that our identity as a nation is uniquely Christian or privileged by God above others. »
“It really was a wake-up call for a number of churches,” Wiersma said. “We need to be involved in a more intentional way.”
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Deeply religious, divided
Back in the January boardroom, discord continued to fester.
“Just because you’re a white Christian conservative doesn’t mean everyone in this county, everyone in this room thinks like you,” one resident said.
“Thank you for returning Ottawa County to God,” said another, seeing a “huge revival” of the silent majority.
The differences of opinion that were expressed at the open mic are not the product of a broken people, according to Pastor Spencer.
“What was the first thing God did with creation? He separated light from darkness. That’s the first thing he did,” Spencer said.
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Somewhere between here and heaven, Dr. Du Mez believes common ground can be found.
“The local policy was basically to pave the road and build parks,” she said. “With this culture wars framing, we’ve seen that really change.”
“I wish more people understood that there is so much space within a democratic system to live your values.”
FOX 17 emailed interview requests to all six Ottawa Impact-affiliated commissioners and members of the Ottawa GOP. None agreed to be interviewed.
