LaPorte Church of Christ is an independent church in Laporte, Colorado, led by Peter J. Peters (November 13, 1946 – July 7, 2011) until his death.[1] Peters proclaimed that Europeans are the true Israel and that contemporary Jews may be of the synagogue of Satan (based on Revelation 2:9 and 3:9) and the descendants of the biblical Esau (Edom), the brother and nemesis of Jacob (Israel). Critics labeled his message to be that of Christian Identity,[2][3]: 239  although he rejected this label.[4] The church is no longer associated with the decentralized group of churches that use the name "Churches of Christ".

The church served mainly as a platform for Peters's views and its membership never went above 100. It attracted white supremacists, including the members of the terrorist organization The Order who murdered radio talk show host Alan Berg with whom Peters had clashed on Berg's radio program.[5]

The church became involved in a controversy in Colorado, related to an amendment against homosexuality, which led to it being fined for a minor violation of election laws. Peters refused to pay the fine and the church was seized by the state in February 1993 as the debt exceeded $10,000.[3]: 241 

LaPorte operates Scriptures for America, a shortwave radio service that broadcasts via WTWW in Lebanon, Tennessee.[6] Peters's programming had previously been carried on WRNO and WWCR.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Morlin, Bill (July 15, 2011). "Influential Christian Identity Pastor Dies". Hatewatch. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Peter J. "Pete" Peters". Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Kaplan, Jeffrey, ed. (2000). Encyclopedia of White Power: a Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right. AltaMira Press. ISBN 0-7425-0340-2. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  4. ↑ Peters, Peter. "Be Wise as Serpents--Reject the 'Identity' Label". Scriptures for America. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  5. ↑ Atkins, Stephen (September 13, 2011). Encyclopedia of Right-Wing Extremism In Modern American History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-59884-350-7. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ Scriptures for America Worldwide Broadcasting Network, retrieved January 5, 2023
  7. ↑ "ADL REPORT FINDS RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS USE SHORTWAVE RADIO TO TARGET U.S. AUDIENCES; ASKS FCC TO INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF REGULATIONS". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-09-11. Pastor Pete Peters, a leading figure in the bigoted pseudo-religious "Christian Identity" movement, preaches anti-Semitism on his show, "Truth for the Times," on WRNO and WWCR.

40°37′33″N 105°08′06″W / 40.62584°N 105.13496°W / 40.62584; -105.13496

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