Window Online

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By Dana Wilkie
Washington Window
Vol. 73, No. 11, November 2005

While underscoring the importance of keeping the Episcopal Church an "inclusive" body of believers, former Sen. John Danforth last month cautioned conference-goers at Washington National Cathedral against becoming a "mirror image" of the Religious Right.

Danforth, an Episcopal priest, a former United Nations ambassador and a Republican, spoke at the opening plenary session of the "Values, Vision and the Via Media" conference, a three-day event designed to explore how moderate and progressive people of faith can make their voices heard in a national values debate that many believe has been usurped by conservative Christian groups.

"While the real problem has come from the Religious Right… it's not impossible that the Religious Left becomes the mirror image of the Religious Right," said Danforth, who addressed an audience of about 150 in the cathedral nave. "It's possible that people on the left can become as equally sure of themselves as people on the right."

The conference, which was held Oct. 13-15, examined how Anglicans have historically articulated progressive Christian values. It lured theologians, activists, journalists and lay people, and featured case studies, panel discussions and plenary sessions that explored ways in which individuals can make a difference in the areas of economic justice, the environment, family values, peacemaking, racism and social oppression.

The Rev. Howard Anderson, director of the Cathedral College, introduced Danforth by noting that "you never know quite what to call him."

"Is it ambassador?" Anderson joked. "Is it senator?"

With that, Anderson introduced Danforth as "Senator, Father, Ambassador John Danforth."

The Episcopal Church has long been a beacon of inclusiveness, Danforth said, but the church must map a bolder strategy for addressing conservatives who claim to know God's mind in the political arena. The church, he said, must model the ability to marry honest, vigorous debate with inclusiveness.

"The thrust of what the [Old Testament] prophets were talking about was to rail against idolatry… against the false gods, against Baal, against the worship of something other than the holy… God," Danforth said. "And when we create a political system that we represent as being 'God's political system,' we are Baal worshipers."

Danforth cautioned that "you have to be a little… humble about claiming to know what's God's will."
"When people believe that they're fighting a religious battle, nothing is more energizing than 'I'm on God's side,' " he said. "But there's also nothing more divisive than that. Because once you believe that you're on God's side, therefore people who disagree with you are not on God's side, or are even enemies of God. Then there's no room for the… stuff of politics. And there's a lot of room for real hatred and animosity and bitterness."

Danforth urged his listeners to recognize the worth of arguments being made by those who identify with the Religious Right.

"One of the points they have to make is what they believe is the loss of our moral compass as a country, and they're right," Danforth said. "They're concerned about the coarsening of America, and all you have to do is turn on the TV or go to the movies.

"They're concerned with respect to the institutions of marriage and the family - that we have lost our bearings. And when you look at the divorce rate and the out-of-wedlock births, they've got a point.

"You may disagree with everything they say and every position they take and every candidate they support, but they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and they too read the Bible, and they too try to be faithful."

Several times, Danforth's audience interrupted his comments with applause, and conference goers gave him a standing ovation after his 30-minute remarks.

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