Fresno County Supervisors voted Tuesday to display the nation’s motto “In God We Trust” in their boardroom, despite objections to bringing religion into government.

The motto will hang behind supervisors above the county seal and on the opposite wall so that supervisors can also be reminded of it, they decided by a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Brain Pacheco opposed.

Fresno County Supervisor Garry Bredefeld sponsored the item. He also successfully proposed adding “In God We Trust” to Fresno City Council chambers in 2017.

Bredefeld said faith has been integral to America’s history and reminds leaders to trust in God as they make decisions. He said the motto “doesn’t choose one faith over another.”

“Those who don’t believe can choose to interpret the national motto as they wish or simply disregard it,” Bredefeld said during the meeting.

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Public commenter Brandi Nuse-Villegas opposed displaying the motto. She brought up Bredefeld’s support of Fresno County’s flag policies limiting displays to only the state and national flags — excluding flags such as the rainbow gay pride flag to avoid endorsing one idea over another.

“This is an opportunity and necessity of the board to show that you and the county represent all constituents,” Nuse-Villegas said.

Pacheco, who is Catholic, said he keeps his faith separate from his duties as supervisor. He said recent actions by the board have divided people rather than bring them together. Pacheco opposed a board decision on Aug. 5 to limit the celebrations county workers can officially recognize.

“I believe God accepts everyone, yet it seems over the last several months we just do more and more things to divide people in groups,” Pacheco said. “I believe religion should be kept out of the boardroom.”

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Magsig: ‘Living Your life in Accordance truly to That Motto is Difficult’

Rev. Simon Biasell-Moshrefi of the Big Red Church suggested displaying the motto for supervisors to see rather than behind them as originally proposed.

Biasell supported displaying the motto but said elected leaders should take it on in practice. He said trust in God is a decision to choose to not make choices based on money, power, or force.

“The more responsibility somebody has, the more tempting it is to put trust in money, power, and force,” Biasell said.

Supervisors Luis Chavez and Nathan Magsig agreed with Biasell, saying endorsing the motto comes with responsibility.

“Approving a motto which the nation already embraces is easy,” Magsig said. “Living your life in accordance truly to that motto is difficult.”

Mendes agreed with Biasell and made the motion to display the motto on both sides of the boardroom.

History of ‘In God We Trust’

President Dwight Eisenhower approved “In God We Trust” as the national motto in 1956, and the next year it began appearing on paper currency. Two years earlier, “under God” was officially added to the Pledge of Allegiance.

In 2011, the U.S. Congress reaffirmed “In God We Trust” as the nation’s official motto and encouraged its display in all public buildings, including schools.

Controversy has accompanied the motto. Free speech and atheist groups have filed lawsuits claiming the displays at public buildings violate the First Amendment and the separation of church and state doctrine.