[Vision2020] Churches unite on the left

[Dick Schmidt]

This is what is happening on the right coast in the Raleigh/Durham area. Sounds like some people have decided that God is not a republican.

Dick Schmidt


Churches unite on the left

By YONAT SHIMRON, Staff Writer
The News & Observer

Determined not to let conservative Christians dominate the faith, 14 area churches have banded together to convince wavering believers there is more than one way to be a Christian. 
Progressivechurches is the name of the new coalition, and it has taken out a catchy ad running in several area newspapers. The group also has a Web site, www. progressivechurches.org. 

"Almost given up on Christianity?" it reads. "We understand." 

The coalition has so far identified three common issues: the inclusion of gays and lesbians, the need to protect the environment, and a desire to be more responsible global citizens.  

"We feel the primary understanding of Christianity in mainstream America is that of the evangelical right," said the Rev. Doug Long, the pastor of North Raleigh United, a United Church of Christ congregation. "We want people to know there are Christians who think of things in a different way." 

The churches, belonging to seven different Protestant denominations, do not agree on all the "values" issues so prominent in the news. But that's the point, they say. They don't have to. 

"Some people see it as dodging the issue," said the Rev. Joanne VerBurg, pastor of Covenant Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation in Cary that is part of the coalition. "But it's up to the individual to study the Scriptures and come up with an understanding of the social issues of the day." 

Progressivechurches was formed shortly after the presidential elections last year when liberals woke up to find that moral values had carried the election, especially values advanced by evangelicals, such as ending abortion, restricting research into stem cells from human embryos and limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. 

Politics and preachers 

The group is also concerned by the close association between evangelicals and the Republican Party. That association has only grown bolder since the elections. 

Recently, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist joined several religious leaders at a Kentucky church telecast and accused Democratic senators of being "against people of faith" because they opposed some of President Bush's judicial nominees. 

Closer to home, a Baptist pastor in the Western North Carolina town of Waynesville resigned after nine members of his church complained they were thrown out for voting for presidential challenger John Kerry. 

These instances suggest that Christians can only vote one way, an idea these churches in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough and Raleigh reject. 

"Christianity means more than what James Dobson says it does," said the Rev. Paul Davis, interim pastor at the Hillsborough United Church of Christ congregation, referring to the child psychologist and radio personality who has been an influential behind-the-scenes player on national issues. 

Soon after the group organized, it was surprised to discover that the Web domain name had not been snapped up. Members said it was another sign that they needed to let their voices be heard. 

"I don't think there's anything more political than silence," Long said. "Silence means endorsing the status quo." 

Their efforts are not without precedent. In Jacksonville, Fla., a group called Christian Alliance for Progress has started up with a similar agenda. National groups such as the Washington-based Sojourners have long complained that evangelicals aren't as concerned with poverty and other social justice issues. 

Just what the group will do next has not been determined. But Long, who has spearheaded it, said he's encouraged. Recently, a woman approached him after services and said she wished his church were closer to where she lived. Long was able to give her the Web address and point her to like-minded churches closer to home.

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