Local GOP to host head of Return America, well-known for legal action
{Contributed Photo}
On Thursday, the Davidson GOP will hold its monthly meeting featuring Dr. Ron Baity of the Christian Conservative group Return America. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7 p.m.
Dr. Baity is the founding pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He has a number of honorary degrees and earned his BA, MA and PhD from Emmanuel Baptist University. He and his wife, Linda, have two children and five grandchildren. He also serves as police chaplain for the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Baity said Return America is a spinoff of the North Carolina Christian School Association (NCCSA), founded 15 years ago. According to Baity, “The North Carolina Christian School Association looked around and recognized we are losing our nation so we spun off what we now called Return America.” Baity currently serves as president. The organization has gained state and national attention for its role in notable lawsuits, including a North Carolina Marriage amendment bill defining marriage as being to one man and one woman. Support of the bill and other speeches given by Baity have been criticized as “anti-gay” by members of the ACLU, GLAAD and BlueNC. When asked in an interview if he considered himself to be “anti-gay,” Baity said, “I am not sure. The only anti-gay speech will be Biblical in content. The family has been defined by God … He created a male and female…the genes will never change. It still remains in place.” Baity is unapologetic about how his words could be taken. “My speech is based on a Biblical concept; I am just the mailman.”
Return America and Berean Baptist were part of the lawsuit challenging several of Gov. Roy Cooper's COVID orders and most specifically the one issued on May 5, 2021 that allowed for the reopening of some activities and businesses. Baity asserts that the order placed unconstitutional requirements and exclusions on churches that he felt violated their First Amendment rights. Quoting “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” regarding a suit that was upheld by a federal judge. Baity said, “It does not predicate a virus or any existing condition.”
The governor’s office lifted restrictions days later saying, “While our office disagrees with the {Federal Court} decision, we will not appeal, but instead urge houses of worship and their leaders to voluntarily follow public health guidance to keep their members safe.”
Baity added Return America has recently turned its attention to the removal of books that the groups consider “pornographic” or “inappropriate” from school libraries. A battle that recently boiled to the point of name-calling between local public officials. Baity was invited to speak by a group of parents to the Davidson County Commissioners. He declined to name specifics of planned lawsuits or locations during a recent interview. “I can’t mention specific counties but our attorneys are working on lawsuits right now.”
Baity said he will cover the nation’s Judeo-Christian history at Thursday’s GOP Republican meeting. “I will speak to our history, our Christian history, where we used to be versus where we are now. People don’t know our history; they don’t know where we came from.”
Thursday’s meeting is open to registered Republicans.
“We are honored to have Dr. Baity with us,” wrote Davidson County Republican Party Chair Chris Jessup. “His love for Jesus Christ and his strong stance for Biblical principles and values continue to be an example for so many to follow.”
