Mainline activism

Christian Century, Feb 22, 2003

FOR THOSE of us at Project Equality, it was surprising news to hear that this organization has "fallen on hard times in recent years," an unsubstantiated claim in Alan Wolfe's review of The Quiet Hand of God: Faith-Based Activism and the Public Role of Mainline Protestantism ("Let's argue," Jan. 11).

For 37 years Project Equality has served as the mainline religious community's agent for equality, access, opportunity and justice in the workplace. In 2003, our role may be more important than ever. With the continuing role of affirmative action threatened, Project Equality is maintaining its successful programs while exploring opportunities in training, development and leadership initiatives.

The 2002 edition of our Buyer's Guide, the largest in our history, is the nation's only tool for leveraging the economic power of individuals, congregations, institutions and not-for-profit organizations as a force for equality and opportunity in the workforce. This edition lists 3,114 employers who have demonstrated commitment to equal-employment opportunity by improving the lives of 3,941,627 employees.

Project Equality is also an agent of change in discriminatory workplace environments. In 2000, we were named the compliance officer by the Department of Justice for the National Hotel chain. We trained 11,000 hotel employees and oversaw all aspects of the DOJ settlement decree.

Cultural proficiency training is a new focus. We are working through key nonprofit organizations to increase representation of people of color on nonprofit boards by matching individuals interested in board service with organizations seeking people of color. Our sponsor organizations and funders believe this work enhances our role as the premier religious, corporate, not-for-profit partnership leading the transformation of society to true inclusiveness.

Yes, we have fewer offices and fewer employees than in the mid-'70s. We believe that streamlined operations, less overhead and strong leadership are the measure of good health, not decline. With 2001 marking the highest revenue year our organization has ever had, Project Equality is ready to move into 2003 with creativity and strength.

Kirk P. Perucca
Project Equality,
Kansas City, Mo.

HOW gravely misleading to suggest that Project Equality has "fallen on hard times" when in fact in these hard times Project Equality has risen to the occasion.

The capacity, respect and position of Project Equality have allowed it to enter into monitoring contracts with the U.S. Department of Justice, lead training sessions around the country, and publish an annual buyer's guide for consumers wishing to support businesses that are racially sensitive and diverse.

Barbara J. George
New York, N. Y.

Alan Wolfe finds fault with Derek Davis's strong advocacy for church-state separation and opines that Protestant congregants and inner city parents are softening in their opposition to school vouchers.

State referenda on school vouchers, most recently in California and Michigan in 2000, showed no diminution in opposition to vouchers in all demographic sectors. Further, a new analysis of poll data by Alec Gallup and Lowell Rose shows that over the past three years of Gallup/PDK polls, respondents prefer "reforming the existing public school system" by 67 percent over "funding an alternative" (28 percent) or "providing vouchers" (26 percent). The percentages for "urban dwellers" are 64 percent, 30 percent and 27 percent. The figures are close to the two-to-one average margin by which voters have rejected vouchers or their analogs in 25 statewide referenda since 1967.

Edd Doerr
Americans for Religious Liberty,
Washington, D. C.