The Buffalo News reports that a Florida pastor has resigned as president-elect of the Christian Coalition of America as members didn’t go along with his plans to extend their focus beyond the issues of the religious right:
The Florida pastor recently tapped to lead the Christian Coalition of America resigned his position in a dispute about conservative philosophy – more than a month before he was to fully assume his post, he said this week.
The Rev. Joel Hunter, of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Longwood, Fla., said he quit as president-elect of the group founded by evangelist Pat Robertson because he realized he would be unable to broaden the organization’s agenda beyond opposing abortion and same-sex marriage.
He hoped to include issues such as easing poverty and saving the environment.
“These are issues that Jesus would want us to care about,” Hunter said.
The resignation took place Tuesday during an organization board meeting. Hunter said he was not asked to leave.
“They pretty much said, “These issues are fine, but they’re not our issues; that’s not our base,’ ” Hunter said. A statement issued by the coalition said Hunter resigned because of “differences in philosophy and vision.” The organization, headed by President Roberta Combs, claims a mailing list of 2.5 million.
Hunter’s move signals more tumult for a group that has fallen on hard times. Members have complained the coalition’s agenda has become too liberal and diffuse.
Hunter hoped to revive the group by expanding its agenda to include what he called “compassion issues.” He also planned to teach evangelicals how to “vote with their life,” or integrate and apply their Christian values to public life.
The coalition’s rejection of Hunter’s approach means it is unwilling to part with its partisan, Republican roots, Hunter said.
“To tell you the truth, I feel like there are literally millions of evangelical Christians that don’t have a home right now,” Hunter said.
It looks like Rove, despite his mistakes in 2006, sure knew which issues would work to mobilize the religious right to support Republicans. Keeping two gays from marrying is apparently more in line with what Jesus would do than to protect the earth from global warming in their minds.
(Hat tip to Mainstream Baptist.)