LaPorte Church of Christ

LaPorte Church of Christ is an independent church in Laporte, Colorado, led by Pastor Peter J. Peters (November 13, 1946 – July 7, 2011) until his death in 2011.[1] Peters proclaimed that Europeans comprise the twelve lost tribes of Israel and that contemporary Jews are satanic impostors (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] although he rejected this label.[3] 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' views and its membership never went above 100. It attracted white supremacists, including the members of the terrorist organisation The Order who murdered radio talk show host Alan Berg with whom Peters had clashed on Berg's radio program.[4]

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 dollars.[5]

References
  1. "Influential Christian Identity Pastor Dies".
  2. Anti-Defamation League. "Peter J. "Pete" Peters" Archived 2008-06-28 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Scriptures for America. "Be Wise as Serpents--Reject the 'Identity' Label" Archived 2007-07-03 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. Atkins, Stephen E. (2011). Encyclopedia of Right-Wing Extremism in Modern American History. ABC-CLIO. p. 146-147. ISBN 978-1598843507.
  5. Kaplan, Jeffrey (2000). Encyclopedia of White Power: A Sourcebook on the Radical Racist Right. AltaMira Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-0742503403.

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