Don Wildmon
AFA/AFR founder
October 1995 – A newsletter entitled United Methodist Briefing Action came across my desk recently. I refer to it not because of the denomination, because the kinds of actions mentioned in the newsletter are taking place in many, if indeed not most, old-line denominations. I refer to it because it shows the hypocrisy of many leaders in those denominations when it comes to addressing the issue of separation of church and state.
The liberals, you know, are crying because conservative Christians are addressing some of the moral issues of our day. They are trying, which is indeed perfectly legal, to get their values represented in some of the laws and politics in our society.
Action is produced by UMAction for Faith, Freedom, and Family, a committee of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Action has an article headlined “UM Leaders Defend Communist North Korea.” Let me quote from the article:
“At its Spring meeting, the Board of Global Ministries (BGM) unanimously called on President Clinton to open U.S. relations with communist North Korea, to withdraw U.S. forces from South Korea, to promote Korean reunification, and to recognize the U.S. role ‘in perpetuating the suffering and separation of the Korean people.’
“Directors and staffers joined together for a service to ‘celebrate’ a ‘Year of Korean Peace and Reunification.’ The service liturgy came from the Korean Christians Federation, a group controlled by the North Korean government.
“Conducting the service was the Korean Church Coalition, which has faulted the U.S. for ‘making threats’ against North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. BGM voted $4,200 for the Coalition, whose executive director is Rev. Paul Kim, a full-time BGM missionary. The Coalition shares office space with BGM and the National Council of Churches in New York City, and also has space in the Methodist Building in Washington, D.C.
“[In May, the Coalition held a conference in Washington. One speaker lamented that South Koreans had been] brainwashed with the fear of communism.
“The speaker claimed that ‘the military alliance between South Korea and the U.S. is a real threat to North Korea.’ He advised South Koreans to renounce any ambition of spreading democracy to the North Korean dictatorship.
“‘We get accused of being sympathizers of North Korea,’ said executive director Kim. ‘The Cold War mentality is still very strong.’ After the conference, Kim led a lobby delegation to Capitol Hill to advocate a softer U.S. stance towards North Korea.”
It is quite clear that the issue of separation of church and state carries a different connotation for these people when they speak to issues than it does when conservatives speak to issues. They think if they address issues they feel are important, it is perfectly acceptable and no threat to the constitution, even if they lobby Congress in support of their issues. But if conservatives do the same, then it is – in their mind – a violation of church and state.
In fact, conservatives are considered dangerous in the eyes of those who have this mindset. So much so that their activities must be monitored and the leaders in the church kept informed on these subversive people. In March, Judy Weidman, General Secretary of United Methodist Communications, wrote several of her colleagues concerning an upcoming meeting. Let me quote her letter, a copy of which I obtained accidentally. “... Then I’m asking Stewart Hoover to share with us his study of the strategy and tactics of the Presbyterian Layman around the Re-Imagining Conference. Tom McAnally has been monitoring Mark Tooley, who seems to have been anointed to continue the controversy by attending events seen to be of the same ilk. He also can give us a sketch of someone who’s been at it a long time – Donald Wildmon. He’s been on our case recently over our support of the National Coalition Against Censorship. That gets us into the troublesome area of pornography. You’ll see a lot of items in this area enclosed.”
Well, yes. I have been reporting on the Re-Imagining Conference where Sophia was worshiped. And, yes, I have reported on UM Communications support of the leftwing National Coalition Against Censorship and their support for pornography. I plan to continue to do so.
I happen to believe that Christians can and should be involved in shaping government, and church members should do the same for their church. The difference between the liberals and myself is that I say it is perfectly legal for them to address governmental issues they consider important and to try to shape the views of their church, but when I address governmental or church issues of importance to me, they say it violates the separation of church and state. They say I’m dangerous. There is a word for that – hypocrisy.
If the shoe fits, wear it. 
