Forum becomes Pew's religion focus

Christian Century, Nov 1, 2003 by John Dart

When Luis Lugo came to the Philadelphia-based Pew Charitable Trusts in 1997 to direct its religion program, the political science professor from Calvin College clearly indicated that his main interest was to throw more light on religious issues in governmental affairs. Lugo was associate director of the Center for Public Justice in the nation's capital before going to the Calvin campus.

One resulting project was the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which nimbly tackled moral-political developments in the past three years. The nonpartisan "information clearing house" in Washington struck an ideological balance with journalist E. J. Dionne Jr. and scholar Jean Bethke Elshtain as co-chairs and with attorney Melissa Rogers, its executive director, savvy about First Amendment issues and D.C. politics.

In an unusual move, Lugo will replace Rogers as executive director as of January 1, then gradually make the forum the "signature project'" of Pew's religion grant programs. As some trusts-funded projects are scaled back, Lugo will expand the Pew Forum's scope into religion and international affairs, among other areas, he said.

Though religion funding totaled only 8 percent of the Pew Trusts' philanthropy in 2002, the religion grants still totaled $13.8 million that year.

"The idea is eventually to bring all related efforts under the forum's umbrella, so that in essence it becomes 'the' religion program tat Pew," Lugo told the CENTURY. Even as he moves into home and office in Washington in the summer, be will remain a senior adviser at the trusts on all religion-related issues. "So there is no need for folks to dust off their resumes," Lugo said.

Rogers, in a separate interview, said that leaving the Pew Forum post was her idea. Previously the general counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee, she said she wanted to return to advocacy on religions liberty and church-state separation issues, "It was difficult to keep neutral as the forum's executive director, and the job gave me zero time lot research and writing," Rogers said.

Lugo praised her ability to corral resources on breaking issues, such as quickly forming panels to discuss U.S. Supreme Court decisions and producing a joint statement on school vouchers by a diverse group of constitutional scholars. The Pew Forum became a place "where the most important questions in our public life can be debated with charity, civility and seriousness," Lugo said in a statement.

While remaining in Washington, Rogers began teaching this fall as visiting professor of religion and public policy at Wake Forest University Divinity School. She expects to be involved in some church-state projects as well. Dionne, a senior follow at the Brookings Institution, and Elshtain of the University of Chicago agreed to stay on us co-chairs, Lugo said.

When Rogers mouths earlier indicated her desire to leave, Lugo and Pew President Rebecca Rimel proposed to the trusts' board that the Pew Formn be reshaped as some major startup grants were ending. "The board gave us a strong mandate to provide Pew Formn with whatever resources it takes," Lugo said.

Starting in the late 1990s, Pew established ten centers of excellence in large research universities (ranging from Boston University to the University of Southern California) where scholars from diverse disciplines, linked by a shared interest in religion, collaborate on projects important to academia and public life. "These and other strategies are naturally winding down" in terms of Pew funding, Lugo said.

"We are still working closely with scholars but in line with Pew Forum initiatives," he said, adding that two or three media education grants "could comfortably fit under the umbrella." What will not change, he said, is that the forum will be a "fact-driven organization not engaging in advocacy of any kind."