The Top Ten Stories of 1986

In 1986, Christians made their presence felt around the globe—from Washington, D.C., to Manila to Amsterdam. More than 10,000 believers journeyed to the Netherlands to participate in an International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists. In the Philippines, Christians formed a human barricade between political opponents during the February revolution. And in the United States, conservative Christians saw one of their own, “700 Club” host Pat Robertson, prepare to run for president.

Recounted here are the year’s top ten religious news stories, events that will impact the world—spiritually, politically, and socially—through 1987 and beyond.

1. Robertson For President?

Though not officially declaring his candidacy, Pat Robertson, founder and president of the Christian Broadcasting Network, pursued an almost certain quest for the Oval Office. He announced in September that he would make his candidacy official once he receives petitions with the signatures of 3 million supporters.

Secular critics alleged a Robertson-run White House would be characterized by religious intolerance. Even observers sympathetic to Robertson’s concerns expressed caution about the impact his candidacy could have on the American public’s perception of the church’s role in society. Nevertheless, Robertson was endorsed widely by Christian leaders, including television evangelist Oral Roberts, who had never before publicly backed a presidential candidate.

2. Peaceful Revolution

The revolution that put Philippines President Corazon Aquino in power was virtually bloodless, and many attribute its relative lack of violence to the church’s influence. Following fraudulent elections in early February, the Philippines’ Catholic hierarchy declared its support for opposition candidate Aquino, launching what became a massive campaign of civil disobedience. Thousands of Christians formed a human barricade around the camp housing two high-ranking generals who had abandoned dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Some Christian observers say the peaceful revolution dealt a severe blow to the communist theory that revolution can be accomplished only through violence.

In the months following Aquino’s dramatic rise to power, the newborn democracy has grown more fragile. Some say the economy has weakened under Aquino. But others contend the country’s economic problems only appear worse because the news media is now free to report on them. There was also friction in the highest ranks of government over how to deal with the nation’s Communist insurgency. This eventually led to the dismissal of Juan Ponce Enrile, one of the two generals who deserted Marcos during last year’s revolution.

3. Battle Over Pornography

Last summer, the U.S. Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography issued a major report calling for vigorous prosecution of illegal forms of pornography. Later in the year, Attorney General Edwin Meese announced a seven-point plan to implement many of the commission’s 92 recommendations.

Playboy magazine and other “soft core” pornographic publications suffered economically, though they were beyond the scope of the commission’s study. The Southland Corporation removed Playboy, Penthouse, and Forum magazines from 4,500 7-Eleven stores after receiving a letter from the pornograpy commission. Commissioners said the letter was intended to give Southland a chance to respond to testimony presented to the commission. Playboy filed suit, alleging that the commission, in violation of the First Amendment, had coerced retailers to stop selling the magazine.

4. South Africa

The perennial issue of apartheid did not abate in 1986. The movement to dismantle South Africa’s system of racial segregation gained momentum, and church groups led the way.

In the United States, the major apartheid-related issue among politicians and church leaders was economic sanctions. Some argued that sanctions would hurt innocent people, including blacks in bordering African nations whose economic lifelines are contingent on good relations with South Africa.

South Africa’s Dutch Reformed Church had provided theological support for racial segregation since apartheid was made law in 1948. In October, however, the synod of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK), the country’s major Dutch Reformed Church, denounced apartheid as unjust. It also passed landmark legislation allowing its congregations to admit persons of all races.

5. The Supreme Court

After the surprise resignation of Warren Burger from the U.S. Supreme Court, President Reagan elevated conservative William Rehnquist to the post of chief justice. Reagan also appointed another conservative, Antonin Scalia, to the high court as an associate justice. Leaders in the prolife movement believe Scalia will oppose court rulings that favor legalized abortion. However, they say it will take at least one more Reagan appointment to assure a high court majority that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion.

6. Jerry Falwell

Early in 1986, Jerry Falwell announced the formation of Liberty Federation, which took over for Moral Majority (although Moral Majority still functions as a subsidiary). Falwell said he made the move to build a framework within which to address domestic and international issues in addition to strictly moral concerns.

Later in the year, however, Falwell announced he was backing away from the political arena. Though he affirmed he would never totally leave politics, he said he would give priority to building Liberty University and to preaching the gospel. In a fund-raising letter, Falwell said his ministries had suffered grave financial setbacks because of the time he had devoted to politics.

7. Teen Pregnancy

Christians and non-Christians alike seemed to agree that 11 million sexually active American teenagers constitutes a crisis. A variety of programs were begun to encourage young people to say no to sex. Another response was the growing practice of dispensing contraceptives at health clinics based in urban high schools. While some studies conclude such programs have succeeded in reducing the incidence of teenage pregnancy, others indicate the programs are a failure.

8. Billy Graham

Nineteen eighty-six was an especially busy year for the world’s best-known evangelist. Billy Graham held his first crusade in Paris, France, since 1963, and his first in Washington, D.C., since 1960. The crusade in the nation’s capital witnessed the large-scale participation of the city’s black Christians.

The highlight of 1986, however, was Graham’s second International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists, held in Amsterdam. The event attracted more than 8,000 evangelists and 2,000 other Christians, representing some 173 countries and territories.

9. King’S Holiday

More than 16 years of work by followers of Martin Luther King, Jr., were rewarded last year when the nation observed the first holiday in honor of the late civil rights leader. King is the first clergyman to be honored with a national holiday. According to the congressional act creating the holiday, the third Monday of January “should serve as a time for Americans to reflect on the principle of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr.”

10. Nicaragua

American Christians continued the debate over U.S. policy in Nicaragua. In that Central American country, Christians have found themselves caught in the middle of political struggle and civil war. Human-rights groups have reported incidents in which contra rebels have killed pastors and other Christians suspected of supporting the Sandinista government. At the same time, several Nicaraguan Christians, including Campus Crusade for Christ director Jimmy Hassan, have told of being detained and questioned by the Sandinistas.

The U.S. Congress first rejected, then approved, President Reagan’s request for $100 million in military aid to the contras, who are trying to overthrow the Sandinista government. Later in the year, reports surfaced suggesting that money received from sale of U.S. arms to Iran was funneled to the contras.

By Randy Frame.

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