1. Preparing For the Crossfire:
Equipping Evangelical Administrators
for Service in Public Schools
2. At church on Sunday you hear…
“The Church systematically, seemingly without
guilt, turns one generation after another of
children over to a pagan, godless, secular
education system that turns them from the
faith.”
Ken Ham & Greg Hall, Already Compromised, p. 101
3. At work on Monday you hear…
"These people have serious anger-management issues. From the
speakers’ podium, one hears a constant blast of hate directed at
the enemy du jour: gays, feminists, non-religious people,
university professors, 'liberal elites,' evolution, Democrats, the
media, Muslims, Keith Olbermann, Hollywood, progressive
Christians, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, public schools, global
warming, France, etc….Yeah, I know the Religious Right claims to
love the sinner and hate the sin, but after listening to two days of
this, I usually conclude that the movement’s followers don’t love
anyone who fails to agree with them.”
Rob Boston reporting on “Values Voters Summit”
in Wall of Separation, September 17, 2010)
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
4.
5. How well is your program
preparing Evangelical leaders to
deal with this crossfire?
6. EITHER:
IGNORANT
“…did not know what ‘evil forces’ were at work in
your school…”
OR
EVIL
“…acting as a tool of evil forces even though you
say you are a Christian.”
(Adler, 1996)
7. Program Possibilities
TEACH THE CONFLICT
MODEL THE VISION
ANALYZE EVANGELICALS
CONFRONT COMPARTMENTALIZATION
TARGET SUSTAINABILITY
8. TEACH THE CONFLICT
Long history
Facet of multiculturalism
Conflict as opportunity
9. MODEL THE VISION
Cosmopolitanism (Appiah)
Convivencia (Hicks)
Common Good
Servant Leadership
Social Justice
10. ANALYZE EVANGELICALS
Unique importance in
American culture
Practical importance as leader
Window to other faiths
11. CONFRONT COMPARTMENTALIZATION
Starts with the leader
“Secular Spirituality” (Flintham)
Mine faith traditions for resources
Check for role conflict
Practice of “faith at work”? (Miller)