Two Butler County commissioners are trusting they are not violating the separation of church and state by displaying a plaque referring to God in the government center.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton and Bill McCarrier outvoted Commissioner Jim Eckstein to install a plaque stating “In God We Trust.”

Pinkerton proposed the idea based on a nationwide initiative started by the nonprofit organization In God We Trust~America, which is dedicated to spreading the mission of patriotism.

The plaque would be displayed in the first floor meeting room.

“I just believe it’s the right thing to do,” Pinkerton said.

McCarrier pointed out the slogan is the motto for the nation.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein opposed the move, saying it would be interpreted as a violation of the separation of church and state.

County solicitor Mike English said there should be no problem hanging the plaque.

“I don’t believe there is a legal issue,” English said.

Eckstein criticized his colleagues’ action.

“I think it’s grandstanding,” he said.

Although more than 330 counties and municipalities across the country have adopted a similar resolution, Eckstein said that is a small number factoring in all the states.

“This is only 1.6 percent,” he said.

Eckstein also pointed out the initiative is not new. According to a list supplied to the county by the nonprofit group, some government entities adopted the resolution in the early 2000s.

Eckstein said the plaque could be seen as the county favoring one religion over another.

Pinkerton said after the meeting God could refer to more than one religion.

Eckstein said he would not file a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union because he did not want to cost the county money in legal fees.

However, someone else could sue the county or go through the ACLU.

Pinkerton said he was willing to go to court to keep the plaque displayed.

“I would be willing to push on this,” he said.

McCarrier disagreed.

“I’m not going to spend a lot of money on a lawsuit,” he said.

Earlier in the meeting during public comment, Eckstein bashed the idea.

“Now anyone can thump on a Bible or praise God in public,” he said. “That is the easy part. The hard part is living out the teachings.”

Eckstein chided his fellow commissioners for being hypocritical because of the way they treat him.

He recalled McCarrier calling him a jerk at a previous meeting.

Eckstein said McCarrier’s motto is “Badger, Belittle and Bully.”