UPDATE
White House director of policy development Gary Bauer is leaving the Reagan administration this month to head a new Washington, D.C., office created by the merging of Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council. The Washington-based Family Research Council, a nonprofit resource network begun in 1980, has always had a close relationship with Focus founder James Dobson, and it will now formally join forces with his ministry.
Dobson will continue his activities from the Focus on the Family headquarters in California, while Bauer and the Washington office will concentrate more on public policy matters. Bauer told CHRISTIANITY TODAY that the main purpose of the new office will be to “have a more effective and long-term impact on the public policy process” as it relates to the family. He said the new office will work with members of Congress on a regular basis, “to help them understand our concerns about the American family,” support various public policy research on family issues, and provide information to the grassroots public “so they can have an impact on public policy.”
It is still unclear how much direct congressional lobbying the new office will engage in, but Bauer said they will be very much involved with “educational” efforts, such as providing members of Congress with position papers on family issues.
Bauer, a member of Fairfax Baptist Church in Northern Virginia, has been an outspoken voice within the administration in support of conservative social policy. Disagreeing with those who say Reagan has accomplished little for the profamily movement, Bauer argues that “the President laid the foundation” for significant changes to come. Citing judicial appointees and an executive order that mandates all government policy be evaluated in terms of its effect on the family (CT, Oct. 16, 1987, p. 52), Bauer said he believes Reagan’s impact on family issues will continue “years down the road.”
North American Scene
HEALTH
Dislike For Aids Victims?
Most Americans have sympathy for AIDS victims, but less for patients who are homosexuals or intravenous drug users, according to a recent poll conducted jointly by the New York Times and CBS News.
Seventy-five percent of those polled said they had “a lot” or “some” sympathy for people who had AIDS. But only 36 percent said they had a lot or some sympathy for “people who get AIDS from homosexual activity.” For “people who get AIDS from sharing needles while using illegal drugs,” only 26 percent said they had a lot or some sympathy.
Intravenous drug users and homosexuals make up the overwhelming majority of individuals with AIDS.
WELLNESS
The Gospel Of Health
Two psychologists say the way Christians view their relationship with God may affect their health. Daniel McIntosh of the University of Michigan and Bernard Spilka of the University of Denver divide Christians into three categories: active, passive, and questors (still seeking truth). From their interviews with 69 Christian college students, they found that active Christians were generally healthier than the others.
McIntosh and Spilka contend that passive Christians view health as largely a matter of chance or God’s will, while active Christians—those who see God as a partner to work with—feel they have a responsibility to develop healthy habits. They also pray more, the psychologists noted, adding that prayer has been found to reduce tension.
CHARITY
Giving When It Hurts
A new survey on charitable giving in America says low to moderate-income people are “more generous than upper-income individuals in their contribution of volunteer time and money.” The survey was conducted by the Gallup Organization and commissioned by Independent Sector, a coalition of nonprofit groups.
According to the findings, seven out of ten households in America contributed an average of $790 to charitable organizations, and almost half volunteered in charitable causes an average of 4.7 hours per week in 1987.
Yet in an income breakdown, households with incomes below $ 10,000 contributed an average of 2.8 percent of their incomes, while those with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 contributed 1.5 percent, and those earning $75,000 to $100,000 contributed 1.7 percent. Those earning more than $100,000 gave an average of 2.1 percent.
The study found that religious causes received more contributions than any other charitable causes, with more than half of the respondents giving to religious groups. Religious groups also received the largest percentage of volunteers. In addition, the survey documented that “active involvement in religious organizations has a direct relationship to giving and volunteering.”
Independent Sector is launching a “Give Five” campaign to encourage Americans to give at least 5 percent of their income and five or more hours a week to charitable causes.
LITIGATION
Court Says “Moonies” Liable
The California Supreme Court has ruled that former members may sue religious organizations for fraud and false recruiting practices. In a 6-to-1 decision, the California justices allowed two former “Moonies” to continue with their lawsuit against Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church. The two claim they were tricked into visiting Unification communities and “brainwashed” into becoming members of the group.
In its opinion, the court said that “while religious belief is absolutely protected [by the Constitution], religiously motivated conduct is not.” The court also ruled that the two former members could sue to recover financial donations made while involved with the Unification Church.
Meanwhile, in Denver, Colorado, a case is under way against two men accused of kidnapping a woman from the Unification Church. The two are charged with kidnapping the 29-year-old woman at the request of her parents, who want to see her “deprogrammed.” Attorneys are using a “choice of evils” defense, saying the act was justified because it was done to prevent a greater evil.
PEOPLE AND EVENTS
Briefly Noted
Inaugurated: As the first full-time president of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri, H. Glynn Hall. Missouri Governor John Ashcroft delivered the inaugural address, emphasizing the necessity of passing Christian values to the next generation.
As president of Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York, Rexford A. Boda. Both the college and seminary are sponsored by the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
Resigned: As periodicals director of Moody Bible Institute, Bob Flood, effective at the end of this month. Jerry Jenkins, vice-president for periodicals at the organization, said Flood’s resignation was “totally unrelated” to a recent controversial report in Moody Monthly about Chuck Swindoll.
Organized: The Four Winds Christian Track Club, an outgrowth of Lay Witness for Christ in Ft. Worth, Texas. Steve McConkey, a successful track coach, will serve as president of the club, which hopes to address the steroid problem in track and field.
