A Presidential insider takes up the work of faith-based initiatives for the Obama administration, it was announced on February 5th. The 26 year old Princeton grad, Joshua DuBois (also a BU alum) will lead a restructured office which got its sea legs in the Bush administration but had its antecedants in prior administrations of government. He is a Pentecostal pastor. Known to be charismatic and bright, DuBois will be assisting faith groups navigate federal funding policies while having the ear of the President. According to the White House Press Office,
"The Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will focus on four key priorities, to be carried out by working closely with the President's Cabinet Secretaries and each of the eleven agency offices for faith-based and neighborhood partnerships:
-The Office's top priority will be making community groups an integral part of our economic recovery and poverty a burden fewer have to bear when recovery is complete.
-It will be one voice among several in the administration that will look at how we support women and children, address teenage pregnancy, and reduce the need for abortion.
-The Office will strive to support fathers who stand by their families, which involves working to get young men off the streets and into well-paying jobs, and encouraging responsible fatherhood.
-Finally, beyond American shores this Office will work with the National Security Council to foster interfaith dialogue with leaders and scholars around the world.
"The Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will include a new President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, composed of religious and secular leaders and scholars from different backgrounds. There will be 25 members of the Council, appointed to 1-year terms.
Members of the Council include:
Judith N. Vredenburgh
, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of AmericaPhiladelphia, PA
Rabbi David N. Saperstein
, Director & Counsel, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and noted church/state expertWashington, DC
Dr. Frank S. Page
, President emeritus, Southern Baptist ConventionTaylors, SC
Father Larry J. Snyder
, President, Catholic Charities USAAlexandria, VA
Rev. Otis Moss, Jr.
, Pastor emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist ChurchCleveland, OH
Eboo S. Patel
, Founder & Executive Director, Interfaith Youth CorpsChicago, IL
Fred Davie
, President, Public / Private Ventures, a secular non-profit intermediaryNew York, NY
Dr. William J. Shaw
, President, National Baptist Convention, USAPhiladelphia, PA
Melissa Rogers
, Director, Wake Forest School of Divinity Center for Religion and Public Affairs and expert on church/state issuesWinston-Salem, NC
Pastor Joel C. Hunter
, Senior Pastor, Northland, a Church DistributedLakeland, FL
Dr. Arturo Chavez
, Ph.D., President & CEO, Mexican American Cultural CenterSan Antonio, TX
Rev. Jim Wallis
, President & Executive Director, SojournersWashington, DC
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie
, Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal ChurchKnoxville, TN
Diane Baillargeon
, President & CEO, Seedco, a secular national operating intermediaryNew York, NY
Richard Stearns
, President, World VisionBellevue, WA
All are interesting choices and all seem to be leaders in their respective faith traditions or organizations. I wonder if this group can work with the faith groups across the spectra and not just the people who follow their particular brand of faith. Two members of the Council are Catholics (one being a priest) and they are seemingly on the left side of the Church. THE common thread which unites this group is experience in community organizing, just like the President. I look forward to seeing the fruit of their labors. Dealing with the secularists is not going to be easy even for the theologically left of center people chosen for the Council.
Regarding the mandate to "address teenage pregnancy, and reduce the need for abortion" I wonder just how this goal is going to be accomplished. It sounds fishy to me as I don't trust the double-speak of President Obama when it comes to protecting life. He certainly has not demonstrated that pro-life matters are part of his makeup. In fact, the opposite is true: Obama has stepped on the pro-life efforts of reasonable people of all faiths.
The vast majority of the people serving on this council are pro-life, actually.
Are these council members pro-life on matters like embryonic stem cell research, IVF, and the like? It would seem to me that in matters of faith the credibility of the witness --in this case the council-- is questionable if some members are in favor of embyonic stem cell research and abortion and others not.
I actually met Arturo Chavez, where do get "left side of the church" from? Is it because he works with the poor? Probably because he is in cahoots with Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio and that Justice for immigrants thing. Maybe just because he is Hispanic and comes from humble beginnings. What did he say to you to make you think he was on the "left side" of the church? Just curious.
Dr. Chavez work with Archbishop Gomez is respectable as the Archbishop is a reliable churchman plus he is a good pastor of souls and a fine thinker. Working with the poor, the immigrant, and others who live on the margins of society is laudable not only because it is consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholic Social Teaching but because this type of work takes humanity seriously. Human need is answered only by Christ and the Church and the Church stands by the plight of the poor. The matter you raise about Dr. Chavez being hispanic and from humble beginnings is rather foolish. Who cares if he is hispanic? I don't. What does ethnic and economic factors have to do with the matter of being left of center? I can care that the Church is being fairly represented. What concerns me is Dr Chavez's dealings with Princeton's HIT and the journal he acted as editor for recently. While it is dicey to make associations based on the editorial work and/or writings of other people in an anthology, that many of contributions made to the HIT journal strike me theologically left of center andmerely raises a question about Chavez's sentire cum ecclesiae(thinking with the Church). So, among the people that President Obama appointed to this faith-based council I perceive that the vast majority come from the liberal tradition of Christianity.