Organization takes straight aim at mainline progressive movement

[bettys boy]

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is taking straight aim at rolling back progressive movements within the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches.

Its advisory board includes noted conservative pundits Fred Barnes and Michael Medved, as well as conservative relgious scholar Michael Novak.

http://www.ird-renew.org/

[RevCheesehead]

1. It looks like the "Reader's Digest" version of Conservative Religion.

I noticed they included "UM Action" which is a conservative movement led by some in the UMC. They're an offshoot of the "Good News" folks out of Wilmore, KY (think Asbury Seminary), and they all flock together. Nothing new there, really - they're just reporting what someone else reported.

Any comments on the other denominations?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. The conservatives among the Episcopalians are a distinct minority

and appear to be on their way out. A friend was a delegate to the General Convention before the most recent one, and she said that the majority of conservative votes in the House of Bishops came from retired bishops, not current ones.

But yes, there are some very vocal conservatives. Yet the really uptight ones tend to split off and join the Anglican Church in America, where, if my experience visiting one of their parishes is any indication, people sit around talking about how virtuous they are.

[RevCheesehead]

3. That's kind of the Conservative Agenda, isn't it?

Think about it: it's all about me, me, me - and the evil of you, you, and you. And I want, no, expect you to become just like me.

Of course, you guys ARE more virtuous - you have incense. :)

[bettys boy]

4. I like incense

After the split, how many parishes will maintain the high church liturgical tradition?

I hope to see a day when progressive Catholics and Anglicans build a new communion built around the best of Anglo-Catholic tradition.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Not all high churches are conservative politically and socially

:-)

[Maat]

7. You words ring true, Rev.

As someone who had the misfortune to be surrounded by them growing up, it was like that then; it is like that now.

[supernova]

6. They have "Presbyterian Action"

As a life-long Presby, I've never heard of this group. I'm more familiar with the "confessing churches" movement within PCUSA. And maybe that's some indication of Presbyterian Action's true name recognition within our denom.

Heh. Our Moderator this time around is from a "More Light" church. ML churches are those that are supportive of the GLBT community. I'm sure that must put this guy's panties in a bunch. ;-)

[pelagius]

8. IRD is funded by religious conservative heavyweight

IRD is heavily funded by Howard Ahmanson. You really need to know about Howard Ahmanson if you want to understand what's going on with the various "conservative" movements in the mainline denominations. Here's a good article:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/01/06/ahmanson/index_np.html

Ahmanson is also a parishioner at St James' Church in Newport Beach, which removed itself from the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles (and, by extension, the Episcopal Church) and declared itself to be under the authority of an Ugandan bishop:

http://www.stjamesnewportbeach.org/index.php

Ahmanson is also very active in funding the various organizations that comprise the American Anglican Network, the self-identified "confessing" movement in the Episcopal Church opposed to, among other things, acceptance of gay people in the life and worship of the Church:

http://www.anglicancommunionnetwork.org/home/index.cfm

Similar movements in the Presbyterian and Methodist churches have been funded, in part, by Ahmanson and/or his proxies.

[GOPBasher]

9. It drives them nuts to see Christian progressives.

They don't think Christians can be liberal.