Pender Co. leaders add 'In God We Trust' to chamber wall

The 5-0 move comes as part of a nationwide initiative called In God We Trust ~ America to legally display the maxim in every municipal chamber and state capitol across the country.

More than 400 cities and counties have done so since the Bakersfield, Calif.-based nonprofit was founded in 2004, according to its website.

Commissioner George Brown, of Pender County's 3rd District, said Wednesday that he was approached with the idea last month.

"It's something I brought to our board, just to see how they would feel about it," Brown said. "(I) was very happy with the support I got from our board members."

Brass letters spelling the phrase will soon be added to the wall in the commissioners' chamber.

"God is recognized and referenced in our state constitution. It's on our money; it's in our Pledge of Allegiance. It's all around us," Brown said. "We have that right to acknowledge our Creator. I just believe it was time that we did just that."

County residents appear to support the move as well. Brown said commissioners received no resistance on the matter, and the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina said Wednesday that it has received no complaints.

"I think it's great, because that's the only person I trust – God," said Paxton Lee, a barber in Burgaw. "I believe in God and always will, so I think it was a good thing to do."

"Everybody's entitled to their own decision, and I think this is a good decision," said Burgaw resident Marenza Armstrong.

According to the In God We Trust ~ America's website, Lee County is the only other county in North Carolina to approve a measure placing the motto above its county seal. That happened in November.