wfn.org | Bible Study And Sermon Improve Involvement in Government

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16-April-1999 
99147 
 
    Survey Finds That Bible Study And Sermon Improve 
    Christians' Involvement in Government 
 
    by Wendy McDowell 
    National Council of Churches 
 
NEW YORK--Christians' attitudes about government and their civic engagement 
improve after they participate in a five-week "Christians and Government" 
Bible study and hear a sermon on the topic.  That is the conclusion of 
survey results released earlier this month from a year-long "Church and 
Government" project designed to encourage a healthy balance between 
confidence in government and criticism of government. 
 
    Churches from a range of denominations in nine cities joined the 
project.  Each participating congregation engaged members in a 
five-session, 22-page Bible study developed by the National Council of 
Churches of Christ of the U.S.A. (NCC), and arranged for one sermon to be 
preached on topics covered in the study.  A collection of sermons from the 
project has also been released. 
 
    Participants responded to survey questions before and after the study. 
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Research Services office developed the 
surveys and analyzed the results.  This research revealed that small but 
consistent changes occurred both in participants' attitudes about 
government and in their projected involvement in government. 
 
    Prior to participating in the Church and Government program, 44 percent 
of respondents said they trust the government to do the right thing "most 
of the time" or "just about always."  After participating in the program, 
57 percent gave one of those answers.  Overall, the survey found, 
confidence in government increased and cynicism dropped as a result of the 
Bible study. 
 
    "Christians have a biblical and faith tradition that abhors cynicism or 
apathy," said the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, NCC general secretary. 
"Biblical figures and Jesus' life include messages of both confidence and 
criticism regarding government.  Yet Christians make good citizens because 
they pray and work for the poor and most vulnerable, thereby advancing the 
common good." 
 
    The study grew out of the NCC's membership in the Partnership for Trust 
in Government, a project of the Ford Foundation and the Council for 
Excellence in Government. 
 
    "Churches can be a powerful place of learning," said Patricia McGinnis, 
president and CEO of the Council for Excellence in Government.  "The 
mission of the Partnership for Trust in Government, for the National 
Council for Churches of Christ and all its partners, is to improve and 
sustain government's place in the understanding and esteem of the American 
people.  The Church and Government program is one important way to achieve 
that goal." 
 
    Among the other findings from the surveys: 
 
    * The Bible study generated small but consistent positive changes in 
the attitudes of participants toward government.  For example, the number 
of people who said that "government has had a large number of successes 
over the past 30 years" rose from 59 to 71 percent following the program, 
and the number who said they agree with the statement, "I trust my 
government representatives to act on my behalf" rose from 33 to 44 percent. 
    * Prior to the Bible study, Christians expressed contradictory views 
toward government.  Nearly seven in ten (69 percent) reported that they are 
"somewhat" confident about government, while three in five (60 percent) 
said they are "somewhat" cynical toward government. 
    * Prior to the Bible study, just 36 percent agreed that "most 
government officials can be trusted to do what is best for the country."  A 
majority (53 percent) said that they trust the government to do what is 
right "only some of the time." 
    * Prior to the Bible study, overwhelming majorities of at least 88 
percent agreed that, as individuals, Christians have a responsibility to be 
involved in the areas of social action and just government - for example, 
by supporting social movements of the poor and oppressed, or by working 
toward just government. 
 
    Most participants said that, even prior to the Church and Government 
program, they had been involved in government - by visiting a public 
official or attending a government meeting, or in other ways - in the last 
year. 
 
    A total of 798 individuals completed the surveys, and 289 completed 
them both before and after the Bible study. 
 
    Participating congregations were from Albany, N.Y.; Albuquerque, N.M.; 
Atlanta; Fresno, Calif.; Milwaukee; Oklahoma City; Portland, Maine; 
Seattle; and Wichita, Kan. 
 
    Participating congregations included Roman Catholics, Lutherans, United 
Church of Christ members, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 
Presbyterians, United Methodists, Friends, Episcopals, Mennonites, American 
Baptists, African Methodist Episcopals, Congregationalists and Church of 
God members. 
 
    The National Council of Churches of Christ is the nation's largest 
ecumenical organization, comprised of 35 Protestant and Orthodox member 
communities, to which 52 million people belong. 
 
    The Council for Excellence in Government, a nonpartisan, nonprofit 
organization of former government leaders now in the private sector, works 
to improve the performance of government at all levels and government's 
place in the lives and trust of American citizens. 
 
    The Partnership for Trust in Government unites 30 leading 
non-government organizations across American society to bring non-partisan 
information about government to their employees, customers, members and 
audiences. 
 
    The research report and collection of sermons are available from Lisa 
Lederer at (202) 371-1999 or Wendy McDowell at (212) 870-2152. 

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