New Christian leader quits over political split

Newsday.com ^ | November 29, 2006 | NICHOLAS RICCARDI

[Alex Murphy]

WASHINGTON - The president-elect of the Christian Coalition announced yesterday that he was stepping down, saying the religious group appeared to balk at his proposals to focus on environmental and anti-poverty issues rather than on purely "moralistic" issues such as abortion.

The Rev. Joel C. Hunter, who was scheduled to take office Jan. 1, said his departure was sparked by "just a basic philosophical difference. ... I saw an opportunity to really broaden the conversation and broaden the constituency. I'm really over this whole polarization thing."

"I think the board just got scared," added Hunter, senior pastor of a mega-church in central Florida and the author of "Right Wing, Wrong Bird, Why the Tactics of the Religious Right Won't Fly With Most Conservative Christians."

Roberta Combs, incumbent president and chairwoman of the board of directors, said that the board is willing to branch out from the coalition's signature issues of abortion and gay marriage, and that the coalition has weighed in on issues ranging from Internet access to the tax burden on the poor. But she said Hunter was acting too fast without consulting superiors.

Hunter said he volunteered his resignation during a Nov. 21 board meeting; Combs said the board invited him to resign.

Combs said Hunter failed to notify the board before announcing an initiative to combat global warming in October. The board favored the idea but wanted "to survey our donors and see where they stand," Combs said. "We want them to come with us and not leave us."

Founded by televangelist Pat Robertson in 1989, the coalition has struggled in recent years as some members have complained it has ignored its core mission of supporting conservative Christian values.

[Tax-chick]

Another socialist bites the dust. Adios, pal.

[jboot]

Good riddance!