1st Amendment Story : Church Flag Flying Again in Pasadena

It took a little time, but Ray Risser finally got the satisfaction of seeing the Christian banner flying in a nice breeze beside Old Glory at the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena.

“I feel they corrected the error,” the 90-year-old retired social studies teacher said. “It was clearly unconstitutional. I couldn’t understand what they thought was wrong with it at all.”

Risser’s reference was to zoning officials who earlier decided that Pasadena’s sign ordinance prohibited the church from flying the Christian banner on one of two flagpoles that were erected on church property with a $10,000 donation from Risser.

The ruling was upset last week, when the Pasadena Board of Directors asked City Atty. Victor Kaleta for an opinion. The legal officer said the church, under the First Amendment, has a constitutional right to fly its flag.

Risser never doubted that those who insisted only government flags could be flown were wrongheaded. He insisted that the Christian flag is a form of identification, like a house number.

“We never thought there was any provision against it,” Risser said Thursday, after the Christian flag had been raised. “All we wanted was to have the church flag fly beside the American flag. It’s high time the churches had some recognition.

“This country started with purpose and destiny, and I think we still have a destiny. I think the combination of a Christian atmosphere and the kind of government we have had produced the finest environment for the individual in the world.

“I’m a great believer in the achievement of the individual.”