Coral Ridge church to de-emphasize politics

While we're pondering the impact of this development, let us remember that DNC Chair Howard Dean asked us months ago to keep the new churches in mind as we seek to expand our reach. When Dean talked to Miami-Dade Democrats at Parrot Jungle, he pointed out that progressive politics may be welcome at some of the new mega-churches. Good values include caring for the poor and sick, I seem to remember from Sunday School, and that's an area where we stand out from the neo-conservatives.

Joe hits 'em with sarcasm

Tuesday's Miami Herald had a nice long piece on the dubious immigration status of a host of a Republican fundraiser event in Miami. Kudos to DEC Chair Joe Garcia for a quote commending the hard work of an undocumented immigrant "like throwing fundraisers for the GOP." Link to fights deportation.

And on p. 1 of Tuesday's Herald, did you see the long workup on the wobbly condition of a religious right institution in Broward, the Center for Reclaiming America. Here's a link to political crossroads.

This is about the Coral Ridge Ministries of the Rev. James Kennedy. It raises interesting questions. As Howard Dean pointed out in his recent talk to us at Parrot Jungle, new churches today are as likely to be big on the environment and global warming as on their more usual hot-button social issues. Are we ready to welcome them to our revival tent?