wfn.org | Christians' Involvement in Government Improves

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
CONTACT: Lisa Lederer , 202/371-1999
  Wendy McDowell, 212/870-2152
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

38NCC3/30/99 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BIBLE STUDY & SERMON IMPROVE CHRISTIANS'
INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT, RESEARCH CONCLUDES
Surveys Reveal Year-Long Program Changes Attitudes, Increases
Engagement

NEW YORK, NY  - 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 today
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 congregants 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 is also being released
today.

Participating churches administered before and after surveys to
participants.  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. Dr. 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 NCC is a member of 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.

The Church and Government program is supported by the Ford
Foundation; it provides participating churches with five Bible
study plans and "sermon helps" which are designed to help
Christians strike a balance between confidence in government and
criticism of particular government policies.

Participating congregations were from Albany (NY), Albuquerque
(NM), Decatur/Atlanta (GA), Fresno (CA), Milwaukee (WI), Oklahoma
City (OK), Portland (ME), Seattle (WA), and Wichita (KS).
Congregations came from a variety of denominations, including:
Roman Catholic; Lutheran; United Church of Christ; Disciples of
Christ; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); United Methodist; Friends;
Episcopal; Mennonite; Baptist; African Methodist Episcopal;
Congregational; and Church of God.

The National Council of Churches of Christ is the nation's pre-
eminent 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 nongovernment organizations across American society to
bring objective information about government to their employees,
customers, members and audiences.

NOTE: The research report is available from Lisa Lederer at
202/371-1999 or Wendy McDowell at 212/870-2152.

 A collection of sermons that were preached as part of
the Church and Government project also is available to
the media.  Contact Wendy McDowell at 212/870-2152 to
request a copy.

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