Contact: Dane Rose, Faith and Action, 202-546-8329, ext 106, 703-447-1072, DaneRose@FaithAndAction.org
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Rob Schenck, President of the National Clergy Council and head of its affiliate, Faith and Action, a Washington, DC-based Christian outreach to policy-makers on Capitol Hill has updated and re-released an in-depth examination of the religious beliefs of Sen. Barack Obama titled, "Barack Obama: Sheep or Goat?" Sources close to the Illinois Democrat announced that he will be filing the necessary paperwork today with the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C. to begin a presidential campaign.
Obama has been widely touted as able to win the support of values voters. He has openly discussed his faith in his writings and media appearances, suggesting that it will guide him in policy decisions.
Schenck, who is a board member of the Evangelical Church Alliance, America's oldest association of Evangelical clergy and chair of its committee on church and society, traces the development of Sen. Obama’s religious views from being the son of a nominally Muslim father and a secular humanist mother to his current association with a liberal church denomination. Through the Senator’s written and spoken words, Schenck discovers that Obama is anything but an Evangelical Christian. Schenck points to Obama’s positions on key issues that are at variance with Evangelical beliefs, in particular:
- Rejection of the plenary authority and centrality of the Bible
- Failure to evidence a personal surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
- Support for abortion in all its forms including partial birth abortion
- Support for same-sex unions
In November 2006, Rev. Schenck publicly criticized mega-church Pastor Rick Warren’s invitation to Sen. Obama to speak at his church. Schenck warned that Obama’s appearance in an Evangelical pulpit would be seen as an endorsement of the politician’s “liberal religiosity” as well as his ambitions for higher office.
Rev. Schenck discusses how quickly “Obama-mania” has penetrated the Evangelical community. His article is designed to help Evangelicals and other traditional Christians to determine Obama's true religious identity.
Rev. Schenck can be reached for further comment through his assistant Dane Rose at (202) 546-8329, Ext. 106, (703) 447-1072 or via email at DaneRose@FaithAndAction.org.
