Storm troopers in the culture war - Promise Keepers; includes related articles on the new Christian right and the pledges of of Promise Keeper - Cover Story

Humanist, Sept-Oct, 1997 by John M. Swomley

One such activity could be in the form of backing the Promise Keepers' "Stand in the Gap" march on Washington, D.C., slated for this October. The event, sponsored by the fundamentalist men's ministry, has been compared to Louis Farrakhan's Million Man March -- only this time the goal is to galvanize and cement the convictions of the Christian right with a key constituency: disaffected white males who played a crucial role in electing Republicans in the 1996 general election.

The Christian right can also take advantage of the sentiment expressed at the recent Southern Baptist Convention. Representing one of the largest denominations in the United States, Southern Baptists passed resolutions condemning Disney for what was called its pro-homosexual social agenda, along with several resolutions supporting the posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings and the passage of a Religious Liberty Amendment to the Constitution in order -- they said -- to save the Judeo-Christian heritage of America. The Christian right registers its greatest strength in the South. If it can reignite its constituency there -- in particular, states such as Arkansas and Kentucky where Democratic senators are retiring -- then the goal of achieving a veto-proof Republican majority in the Senate and, thereby, advancing the Christian right agenda, will be one step closer.

Such an achievement would be a great prize toward the right's campaign to institutionalize such issues as public aid for religious schools and prayer in public schools and to destroy the freedoms gained in such areas as abortion and affirmative action. No, the Christian right has not given up the fight; it's just realigning its troops in preparation for different battles.

Promise Keepers' Growth Ministry

Year Staff Stadium Event Attendance Budget

1993 22 50,000 at one stadium $4 million 1994 150 278,600 at seven stadiums $26 million 1995 300 727,342 at thirteen stadiums $64 million 1996 360 1,100,000 at twenty-two stadiums $97 million 1997 452 1,250,000 at twenty-four stadiums $87 million

and march on Washington (estimated) (estimated)