Baldwin County officials are preparing to display an “In God We Trust” banner inside the commission chambers at the county administration building in Bay Minette, joining a wave of local governments across the region making similar moves this summer. The banner is expected to be ready for the commission’s mid-July meeting, with an early-August meeting serving as a backup date if the sign isn’t finished in time.
Commission Chairman Skip Gruber said the decision followed a broader trend among cities and counties throughout Baldwin and Mobile counties, where local leaders have opted to post the national motto in government buildings after requests from residents. Gruber pointed to the phrase’s presence on U.S. currency as part of his reasoning for supporting the display, noting that if it’s acceptable on money carried daily, it should be acceptable on the wall of a public meeting room.
Unlike Mobile County, where commissioners held a formal vote on a similar plaque, Baldwin County’s commission does not plan to take an official vote on the banner. Gruber’s fellow commissioners indicated in interviews that they support his decision to move forward without one. Commissioner Tucker Dorsey said Baldwin County has a long tradition of invoking divine guidance in local government, calling it appropriate given the phrase’s status as the national motto. Commissioner Frank Burt Jr. echoed that sentiment, noting the words appear on currency and that commission meetings traditionally open with prayer, calling the banner a fitting testimony. Commissioner Bob James said he wasn’t concerned about any backlash the decision might generate.
The Baldwin County move comes on the heels of a contentious vote in neighboring Mobile County, where commissioners approved a similar plaque for Government Plaza by a narrow 2-1 margin after a public meeting in which the large majority of speakers voiced opposition. That decision drew a formal objection from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a national organization that argues such displays inappropriately favor religious belief in government spaces and can exclude residents who are not religious.
A staff attorney for the organization argued that while “In God We Trust” may be a legitimate personal sentiment, placing it inside government buildings sends an implicit message that excludes non-religious residents, regardless of the phrase’s long history as the national motto. That objection appears unlikely to change plans in Baldwin County, where commissioners have expressed confidence that the banner reflects longstanding local values rather than an overreach by government.
The debate mirrors similar disputes playing out in communities nationwide as local governments weigh religious-themed displays in public buildings against concerns about inclusivity, with South Alabama emerging this year as one of the more active regions for the trend.