When Franklin, North Carolina mayor Bob Scott was sworn into his second term this week, the self-identified Humanist decided to honor his belief in the Separation of Church and State. Scott was not sworn in on the bible, but instead took his oath on a copy of the Constitution.

Scott said that he “decided to take my oath holding a copy of the Constitution because there is so much controversy surrounding separation of church and state. I am a firm believer in keeping religion and government separate.”

“Many of the old ways of doing things are gone,” he added. “The attitudes I expect to never hear expressed are ‘we ain’t never done it that way before,’ or ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,’ or ‘we have always done it this way.’ I want to make sure that everyone on this board is always free to say ‘let’s try it,’ or ‘here’s a new way to think or do something.’”

#Humanist and AHA member Bob Scott sworn in as Mayor of Franklin, NC.Takes his oath on copy of Constitution. pic.twitter.com/jmbSGZcQkM — American Humanist (@americnhumanist) December 10, 2015

After a successful first term, Mayor Scott promised to bring change and innovation to the town of 3,800 on his second time around.

[Patheos] Featured image via Twitter