Changes

Inspired by union organizers of the past, Reed built a political network that influences candidates at every level.  In eight years, the group’s budget has grown from $200,000 to $27 million, and it now boasts 1.9 million members. Many wondered how Reed achieved this seemingly overnight success. Simply put, he wedded high technology with cutting-edge political organization to engineer the most efficient and effective projection of religion into the nation’s political life in modern times.

Inspired by union organizers of the past, Reed built a political network that influences candidates at every level.  In eight years, the group’s budget has grown from $200,000 to $27 million, and it now boasts 1.9 million members. Many wondered how Reed achieved this seemingly overnight success. Simply put, he wedded high technology with cutting-edge political organization to engineer the most efficient and effective projection of religion into the nation’s political life in modern times.

Furthermore, “The boyish-looking Reed…has also successfully moved Christian conservatives toward mainstream issues.  In his 1993 article, “Casting a Wider Net,” [in the Heritage Foundation’s Policy Review] he warned that the 'pro-family movement still has limited appeal even among the 40 million voters who attend church frequently.'  To win more elections, he argued, the coalition has to expand its traditional agenda of opposing abortion and gay rights to include calls for tax cuts and smaller government.”  

Furthermore, “The boyish-looking Reed…has also successfully moved Christian conservatives toward mainstream issues.  In his 1993 article, “Casting a Wider Net,” [in the Heritage Foundation’s Policy Review] he warned that the 'pro-family movement still has limited appeal even among the 40 million voters who attend church frequently.'  To win more elections, he argued, the coalition has to expand its traditional agenda of opposing [[abortion]] and gay rights to include calls for tax cuts and smaller government.”  

With a Ph.D. in American History from Emory University, Reed built the Christian Coalition movement with an eye toward social reform movements that had taken place before his time.  Reed believed that the long tale of religious involvement in American life should be embraced by all Americans because it had served our country well and unified believers of many denominations.  He observed that Christians and religious rhetoric had been driving forces behind nearly every social movement in America, whether of the right or of the left.  From abolition to the New Deal, from the labor movement to civil rights movement, Christians had been instrumental to the expansion of social justice in America.  The Christian Coalition sought to stand on those historic movements as it united Catholics, observant Jews, and Protestants from every walk of faith.

With a Ph.D. in American History from Emory University, Reed built the Christian Coalition movement with an eye toward social reform movements that had taken place before his time.  Reed believed that the long tale of religious involvement in American life should be embraced by all Americans because it had served our country well and unified believers of many denominations.  He observed that Christians and religious rhetoric had been driving forces behind nearly every social movement in America, whether of the right or of the left.  From abolition to the New Deal, from the labor movement to civil rights movement, Christians had been instrumental to the expansion of social justice in America.  The Christian Coalition sought to stand on those historic movements as it united Catholics, observant Jews, and Protestants from every walk of faith.