[pf] [Fwd: Sojo mail: Bush seeks faith-based advice]

by Betsy Barnum

25 December 2000 19:49 UTC

A hopeful bit of info from Sojourners' Jim Wallis. You can find this and
other religious "left" articles and opinions at
<http://www.sojo.net/home/index.cfm>, the home page for Sojourners --or
sign up for their e-mail distribution list and get them delivered.


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> H E A R T S  &  M I N D S
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> An unexpected meeting with Mr. Bush
>
> by Jim Wallis
>
> When the call came from Austin last Friday, I was
> very surprised. President-elect Bush was already
> wanting to meet with religious leaders about
> faith-based initiatives in solving the nation's
> problems. And he was reaching well beyond his base
> of conservative evangelicals. Would I come and suggest
> others who should be invited?
>
> Having both been arrested on the White House
> sidewalk and had breakfast meetings with a president
> on the inside, I've concluded that the latter is more
> dangerous to prophetic integrity than the former.
> Nevertheless, I do believe it is important to talk to
> political leaders and do so on a regular basis. And
> because many of us did that with President Clinton
> (until he cut off the relationship when we were
> critical of his welfare reform), I thought we should
> be willing to speak with the new Republican president
> as well. There could be both dangers and opportunities
> here.
>
> Sitting in a small circle in a Sunday School
> classroom in Austin's First Baptist Church, seven
> Call to Renewal leaders joined about 20 others
> for a conversation with George W. Bush. The meeting
> turned out to be more than a photo-op. Bush mostly
> listened and asked questions for over an hour, then
> stayed longer to mingle and talk to several of us
> individually. He clearly believes in faith-based
> organizations and the important role they can play
> in solving social problems, and wants to make support
> for such grassroots efforts is an important part of his
> administration (there will be a new White House office
> on faith-based initiatives).
>
> The faith-based leaders in the room were both strong
> and clear about their commitments and concerns. I
> thanked him for being willing to meet with people who
> didn't support his election, but said we would work
> with him if he decided to do something real and
> significant to overcome child poverty. Specifically,
> we suggested he use his inaugural address to call
> the nation to reduce the child poverty rate by half
> in five years. Such a call could be for a nonpartisan
> effort, carried out through new partnerships between
> the government and many other sectors, including
> faith-based organizations, and should be put forward
> as a moral commitment, not just a political one. When
> he asked how to speak to the nation's soul, I suggested
> starting with the kids, who reveal our worst failures
> as a society, but also embody our best hopes.
>
> We also talked about focusing education reform on
> our poorest children, and forging new partnerships
> between congregations and schools. The importance of
> Africa and the pandemic of AIDS there being on the
> foreign policy agenda was also raised, and he responded
> positively to all the recommendations. Bush asked
> theological questions of the religious leaders, like
> what is justice? It's a key question, especially amid
> fears among some that an emphasis on faith-based
> organizations will be used to substitute for crucial
> governmental responsibilities.
>
> George Bush was relaxed, informal, witty, and sincere;
> "I don't want to be thought of as just a white Republican
> guy." Afterwards he told me he didn't really have any
> experience with poor neighborhoods like mine, so I told
> him we were just 20 blocks away from his new house
> and I would be happy to show him around when he gets
> to town.
>
> It was only a first meeting, and just an opening to
> further discussion. But it was a good start. If the
> new president is responsive to the concerns of religious
> leaders, I believe we can find ways to work with a new
> administration and Congress. If not, then our opposition
> to the new administration will be based on having begun
> with some personal contact and relationship. I think
> that's a good thing.
>
> Afterwards, I told the new president-elect, "I hope
> you surprise us." To which he responded, "I better if
> I hope to get reelected." Perhaps a Republican preaching
> compassionate conservatism, working with Democrats who
> want to fight for poor working families, and both
> joined by faith-based organizations at work on the
> streets could accomplish things that neither
> Democrats and Republicans have been able to do. We'll
> see. The ball is in both our courts.
>
> For news coverage of Wednesday's meeting:
>
> The New York Times
> http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/21/politics/21RELI.html
>
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