Evangelical Leader Preaches Pullback From Politics, Culture Wars

[applegrove]

Evangelical Leader Preaches Pullback From Politics, Culture Wars

By Neil King Jr at the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324755104579072722223166570?mod=e2fb

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But Republican operatives with ties to the evangelical movement say much is changing. Every year tens of thousands of evangelicals, particularly the young, leave the Southern Baptist and other big denominational churches for more loosely organized assemblies that oppose abortion but are less likely to hew to other Republican causes.

"Republicans are finding it increasingly hard to collar evangelicals for political purposes, simply because the movement is so fragmented now, so decentralized, and a growing number of evangelicals simply find politics distasteful," says Mark DeMoss, a former chief of staff to Mr. Falwell and an adviser last year to Mr. Romney's campaign.

Mr. Moore is responding to this drift. He warns evangelicals to avoid becoming "mascots for any political faction." He focuses on how to keep millennials engaged in the church. His advice to church leaders: Be "winsome, kind and empathetic."

His advice meshes with those in the Republican Party who want the GOP to back off hot-button cultural issues to stress themes such as job creation and education. Party leaders earlier this year released a manifesto calling for the GOP to become more tolerant, welcoming and inclusive. The shift also comes as Republicans face a growing rift in the party between its activist tea-party flank and its more traditional business wing.


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[villager]

1. "Kind and empathetic!?" That Jesus stuff!?

That's for commies!