Stop playing games. Our Community Center is not your “Campus.”
This is a phony claim. It's called a tell, and it lets you know who they are.
The Awaken Megachurch has been advertising the Coronado Community Center as its “campus” for the past few months. It’s a blatant misrepresentation. There is no campus. Our community center is a public facility funded by Coronado taxpayers to benefit all who live here.
Why is this important? Awaken’s founder streams hate speech on social media, including calls for torture and public hangings, along with endless disinformation and QAnon conspiracy theories. He calls those of us who oppose him unholy, unclean, perverted demons and vows to run any naysayers out of town. He characterizes pushing his way into new communities as “warfare.”
Renting a room a few times at our community center and then calling it a “campus” is part of that aggression, more disinformation, and a slap in the face of city officials and our community.
Several concerned Coronado residents have been asking our city council to respond. Some councilmembers have kept mum. A few have obfuscated. Kudos to Councilmember Mike Donovan, who has been the most forthcoming. Here’s what he said yesterday during a meeting with one concerned Coronado resident:
“After previously twice telling the local pastor to remove the notations of "Campus" as it pertains to their use of Coronado city facilities, city staff reached out again earlier this week giving them until this Friday (May 31) to remove the city notation and if they do not, the city will cancel their permit for the planned June meeting and refund their money. We are being clear that all graphics and marketing of Awaken Coronado must omit "Campus" if they are using city facilities, as it could imply the rented facility as their own.”
It looks like Coronado city staff is finally getting Awaken’s attention. This is one graphic from its website today, with the “campus” reference removed.
But “Coronado Campus” references are still up elsewhere on the Awaken website. So we shall see if the city stands firm until all campus references are removed, including the one below.
World Religion Professor Peter Bolland characterizes Awaken as an invasive species.
Click play on Awaken’s little animation below. It seems to confirm the professor’s theory!
The Oath of Service
As part of its attempts to “take territory” in Coronado, Awaken is actively seeking to lure military families into its fold.
All who join our military take an oath of service to protect our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Awaken promotes Christian Nationalism, a radical political movement dedicated to replacing our democracy with an authoritarian theocracy. That would mean the undoing of our Constitution.
Here’s an excerpt from a recent Letter to the Editor of the Coronado Eagle/Journal from two longtime Coronado residents who served in the Navy:
“As two individuals who took the oath and continue to hold it dear, we would never be involved with such subversion. To any members of our military reading this, we are sounding the alarm. They are not who they say they are. They have well-documented ulterior motives. We must honor our oaths and always support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. No exceptions.” Holly & Denny Nappen
The Petition
More than 1100 people have signed the “No Cult in Coronado” petition. Here are some of the latest comments from signers:
Christian Nationalism is not a religion
In her testimony before Congress, Amanda Tyler, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, argues that Christian nationalism is unpatriotic, unconstitutional, and misrepresentative of Christianity itself.
Are You Concerned?
If you would like to let the Coronado City Council, Mayor, and City Manager know how you feel about Awaken claiming to have a campus here, please email them your thoughts.
Councilmember Carrie Downey cdowney@coronado.ca.us
Councilmember Casey Tanaka ctanaka@coronado.ca.us
Councilmember Mike Donovan mdonovan@coronado.ca.us
Councilmember John Duncan jduncan@coronado.ca.us
City Manager Tina Friend tina.friend@coronado.ca.us
Mayor Richard Bailey rbailey@coronado.ca.us
Resources:
A Concerned Community Comes Together
Christian Nationalism is not a Religion
Their Appetite is Insatiable, They Want it All
Christian Nationalism and Political Violence
What Happens When Church and State Merge? Look to Nazi Germany For Answers
The Bogus Historians Who Teach Evangelicals They Live in a Theocracy