Survey shows mainline pastors support
Washington lobbyists
Pastors say churches' Washington offices help
counter the religious right
by Religion News Service
WASHINGTON -- November 10, 2000 -- Research released
from a Princeton University study of mainline Protestants shows
overwhelming support for denominational lobbying in Washington, even
though most pastors have little or no contact with their church's
capital offices.
The survey, released earlier this year, is a sweeping
look at all aspects of mainline churches. Laura Olson, a researcher at
Clemson University, profiled the political role of Methodist,
Presbyterian, Episcopal and American Baptist churches, among others.
According to Olson's study, 84 percent of mainline
pastors support their denominations' Washington offices, while a small
percentage 8 percent feared losing their voice in Washington.
"The fact is that these offices do fulfill a
vital role for their denominations," Olson said. "They
undertake the national political work that many clergy cannot or will
not do."
Olson surveyed five Washington church officers, as
well as 62 pastors around the country. Olson said many pastors feel
their Washington lobbyists are an important alternative voice to the
hefty, well-funded influence of conservative evangelical activists in
the religious right.
Despite a lower profile than the religious right,
Olson said mainline lobbyists are a much-needed voice on social justice
issues such as poverty, human rights and the environment.
"There is much work to be done in the local
public arena, and clergy find plenty of opportunity and incentive to do
it," Olson said. "But there is also a need for a national
political voice since many political issues have strong national and
international components."
Religious activism, however, is not without its
critics.
Conservative and evangelical factions particularly
within the United Methodist Church have accused the Washington offices
of promoting progressive, liberal causes. Conservative Methodists
repeatedly point to the church's General Board of Church and Society in
Washington, which earlier this year got into trouble when it sought to
raise money to fund lawyers for Elian Gonzalez's father.
Tom Hart, the director of the Episcopal Church's
Washington office, said his staff seeks to give a voice in a practical
way to positions taken by the church at its triennial General Convention
meetings.
"Our work in Washington brings actual work behind
the positions and words that the church has taken," Hart said.
"Otherwise the statements would remain words on a page."
