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Committee backs measure linking Christian Heritage Month to Christian Heritage Flag after theological questions
Summary
SJR 204, which links a November Christian Heritage Month observance to a designated Christian Heritage Flag, advanced despite objections from members who questioned the flag's origins and whether a single design represents all Christian traditions.
Sponsor Chairman Sopiki told the committee SJR 204 would link the existing November Christian Heritage Month to a symbolic Christian Heritage Flag and described the flag's colors, stripes and medallion as representing Old and New Testament themes and the twelve tribes and disciples.
Representative Jones raised theological objections and asked who designed the flag and whether it represented all branches of Christianity, noting many church traditions do not use flags. The sponsor declined to give a fuller historical provenance beyond the symbolism explanation. After discussion the committee advanced SJR 204 to State and Local Government with a reported vote of 7 ayes and 3 nays.
"So the Christian heritage flag, the left there's a left vertical stripe represents the old testament... the Circular Center Medallion represents the New Testament," the sponsor explained. Representative Jones said, "I just feel very weird about this, that the state is telling us what is the Christian heritage flag."
