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1. 'I believe in the Word of God. I am just not mad about it'

E. J. Dionne takes a deep look at the Southern Baptist election of Frank Page and says it shows evangelicals are mellowing out. "Page's upset victory could be very significant, both to the nation's religious life and to politics," Dionne says. By beating out the stalwarts of the conservative resurgence in the SBC, Page is broadening the Southern Baptists' appeal. Not cast in the mold of the combative, conservative leader, Page isn't fighting the liberals, but talking about preaching the gospel in a denomination whose membership has remained stagnant for several years.

While Dionne's analysis of Page's election is reductionistically political, and the election is not as momentous as he makes it, he is on to something. "The evangelical political agenda is broadening as new voices insist on the urgency of issues such as Third World poverty and the fights against AIDS and human trafficking," he says.

Rich Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs at the National Association of Evangelicals (and a self-described "Ronald Reagan movement conservative"), has been a leader in urging evangelicals to make environmental stewardship a central element of their political mission. This has earned him attacks from such prominent leaders on the Christian right as James Dobson. …

Religious movements stay vibrant thanks to the complicated interaction of fidelity, reflection and reform. The evangelical world is going through a quiet evolution as believers reflect on the perils of partisanship and ideology and their reasons for being Christian. This will probably affect the nation's political life, but it will certainly affect the country's spiritual direction. My hunch is that not only moderates and liberals but also many solid conservatives welcome the departure.

It will be interesting to watch this "departure." How will evangelicals take up the banners of creation care, AIDS, human trafficking, and religious freedom without deemphasizing issues like abortion and sexual morality?

How will evangelicals avoid becoming the mirror image of the mainline? News from this summer's mainline Protestant conventions has focused almost exclusively on political issues: homosexuality, the war in Iraq, Guantanamo, divesting from Israel. At the same time, these denominations are hemorrhaging members and money.

While evangelical leaders craft statements on global warming and torture, hoping that they're finally being listened to in the halls of power, will the temptation to appeal to a broader audience—and to be liked by cultural gatekeepers—cause them to dilute their evangelical message?

2. Speaking of which …

"Former President Bill Clinton praised evangelical Christians on Thursday for their recent efforts on global warming and debt relief for poor nations," reports the Associated Press. Clinton praised in particular the publication of Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action.

3. Decency on the airwaves

"U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday signed into law legislation that raises fines tenfold for radio and television broadcasters that violate U.S. decency standards by airing extensive profanity or sexual content," reports Reuters. "The Christian Coalition had placed legislation to increase the fines as the No. 5 item on its 2006 legislative agenda."

Now, television will be safe once again for the whole family to veg out in front of for hours every evening.

4. Brazilian evangelicals show muscle

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June (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50