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<DIV>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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dick Schmidt</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story-hed><FONT size=4><STRONG>Churches unite on the
left</STRONG></FONT></SPAN><BR><BR><SPAN class=story-byline>By YONAT SHIMRON,
Staff Writer</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=story-byline><STRONG>The News &
Observer</STRONG><BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN class=story-body>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. </DIV>
<P>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, <A
href="http://www.progressivechurches.org/" target=_new>www.
progressivechurches.org</A>.
<P>"Almost given up on Christianity?" it reads. "We understand."
<P>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.</SPAN>
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<P>"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."
<P>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.
<P>"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."
<P>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.
<P><B>Politics and preachers</B>
<P>The group is also concerned by the close association between evangelicals and
the Republican Party. That association has only grown bolder since the
elections.
<P>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.
<P>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.
<P>These instances suggest that Christians can only vote one way, an idea these
churches in Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough and Raleigh reject.
<P>"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.
<P>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.
<P>"I don't think there's anything more political than silence," Long said.
"Silence means endorsing the status quo."
<P>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.
<P>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.</S! pan><BR></P></SPAN></BODY></HTML>