This Month’s Updates:
legislative briefing
Reflections on Ministers’ Day on the Hill, 2009
(April 7, 2009) – “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Seventy ministers came to the Tennessee state Capitol in March for the third annual Ministers’ Day on the Hill hosted by the Family Action Council of Tennessee. The ministers, who serve churches from Memphis to Bristol and Clarksville to Chattanooga, were led in worship by a men’s ensemble of the Nashville Choir, under the direction of John Coates. They sat at the desks of the state senators and prayed for each one by name, asking God to give each of them peace, wisdom and moral conviction to stand for what is right and true. For many of the ministers, this was their first time to enter the Capitol.
Dr. David Shelley, a Nashville pastor and Director of Church and Community Relations for FACT, coordinated the event that featured speakers Joe Dallas, former President of Exodus International and author of The Gay Gospel?; David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Research Group and author of UnChristian; and former 12-year state Senator David Fowler, President of the Family Action Council of Tennessee. The ministers were informed of the looming threats to religious liberty in our state and the progress on moral and family-related legislation regarding abortion, homosexual adoption, the advertisement of obscenity on television, state regulation of sexually-oriented businesses, and other pertinent issues.
For some ministers it was an eye-opening experience as FACT President David Fowler explained some of the issues that will be addressed by our legislators in this session of the General Assembly. Upon learning that Tennessee was one of only 16 states whose constitution provided a fundamental right to abortion, and the only one of those 16 to have ever struck down an informed consent law, one minister called out, “Would you say that one more time?” no doubt learning for the first time the state of Tennessee’s abortion law.
Dr. Shelley reminded the attendees of the importance of the body of Christ being engaged in the culture as salt and light (as Jesus instructed in Matthew 5). The Family Action Council of Tennessee seeks to help churches do just that through a variety of initiatives, e-newsletters, an informative Web site (www.FACTn.org), church Salt & Light committees, voter registration drives, etc. Some of the attendees said,
- Thanks so much for a wonderful program. The information shared was wonderful, and I really enjoyed being a part of the whole day.
- I am thankful for Family Action Council of TN and will do all I can to make people aware of your ministry.
- Thank you very much for the good day at Ministers’ Day on the Hill. It was informative and challenging.
Please pray for these ministers, and their respective churches, that God would use them to have a positive influence on the decisions that are made in our state government.
Last, but not least, the success of Ministers’ Day on the Hill was due, in large part, to all the volunteers who prayed for attendees, made phone calls to their local ministers, compiled data on their computers at home, baked and brought refreshments to the Capitol and served as hosts and hostesses for the day so that the attendees could easily find their way around the Legislative Plaza and Hermitage Hotel. Dr. Shelley said, “We simply could not have pulled this event off without the tireless help of our volunteers. Our new Office Manager/Project Coordinator, Lauren George, put her gifts of administration to work and helped Ministers’ Day on the Hill run as smooth as silk!” A special word of thanks also goes to the folks in Christian radio (Bott Radio Network [Memphis and Nashville], Moody Radio Network [Chattanooga and Smyrna], and Appalachian Educational Communication Corporation [Tri-Cities area]) who donated airtime to promote the event.
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special initiatives
Network Building Continues in March
(April 7, 2009) – Dr. David Shelley put some miles on the car during March as he traveled around the state promoting FACT at a variety of gatherings.
In the early part of the month, Shelley preached at the Loudon County Baptist Association pastors’ conference, near Knoxville, and encouraged those pastors to stay informed of the moral and political issues of the day. As usual, many of them were shocked to learn that Tennessee has a fundamental right to abortion due to the judicial activism of unelected judges. The pastors were excited about the progress that has been made in this year’s General Assembly, and the group brainstormed about having FACT come back in the fall to host a Truth Project worldview training session for area churches.
By invitation of the Confidential Care for Women of Shelby County, Shelley hosted a booth at the Mark Lowry concert at First Baptist Church of Millington and shared the work of FACT with hundreds of people in that northern suburb of Memphis. While in town, he called on a dozen churches in the Memphis area telling them about FACT’s policy values and ministries for churches.
Then Shelley was on the road again, this time speaking to a group of ministers in Morristown, northeast of Knoxville. One of the pastors who was present at the gathering wrote:
Our local association of churches and pastors recently hosted a meeting with Dr. Shelley. He proceeded to inform us of several pressing matters that we had no prior knowledge of. For instance, he shared with us that the abortion laws in Tennessee are among the most liberal in all of America. None of our pastors knew that, and had David not brought it to our attention, we would probably still be ignorant of the issues.
If you are a minister and participate in a ministerial alliance or other minister gathering, please consider inviting Dr. Shelley or Mr. Fowler to your next event. The more opportunities we have to share the word, the more God’s people will become informed and equipped to make a difference for Christ in the state government.
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political internships
Internship Reflections
(April 7, 2009) – FACT has been privileged to have Nicole Yarbrough interning with us this semester. Nicole, a graduate student at Regent University, joined FACT in January and has been a real asset to our team. She summarizes her experience below:
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Nicole Yarbrough |
In the fall of 2008, I learned the Family Action Council of Tennessee had an available internship opportunity. Little did I know that I would be the first intern to work under Mr. Fowler as the President of FACT. It has been a learning experience for everyone, I think, but none so much as me. I have been pushed, challenged, and enlightened throughout this experience, and I would not change it for the world. I ran around the Capitol building once or twice (or perhaps twenty or thirty if I was with Mr. Fowler). I met plenty of interesting characters that I could never forget even if I tried. I learned about many new and exciting research methods. And not once did I have to shine Mr. Fowler’s shoes. But most importantly this experience has brought me closer to the Lord. I have a new appreciation for the battle being fought everyday by people like Mr. Fowler, and I have become empowered to do the same. God blessed me greatly when He allowed me to work with the Family Action Council of Tennessee.
Thank you, Nicole, for your hard work and commitment to FACT. We wish you well in all of your future endeavors.
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in the news
FACT in the News
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FACT’s David Fowler (center) appeared on Inside Politics, aired on Nashville’s CBS affiliate. |
(April 7, 2009) – With the legislative session in full swing, FACT has found itself in the news and on the airwaves. This past month, in addition to interviews given in connection with Ministers’ Day on the Hill, FACT’s president, David Fowler, appeared as a guest on Morning Line and Inside Politics, programs aired by the CBS affiliate in Nashville.
On Morning Line, Mr. Fowler appeared with Chris Sanders, head of the Tennessee Equality Project, to discuss pending legislation regarding adoption by two unmarried individuals. And because of his knowledge of Tennessee politics and the major Republican candidates for Governor, Mr. Fowler appeared opposite Tommy Burnette on Inside Politics to discuss the upcoming Governor’s race.
In addition, Mr. Fowler has provided interviews on the Michael Delgiorno and Let’s Talk Frank radio programs in Nashville and Knoxville, respectively. And just as importantly, readership of FACT e-newsletter, The FAN (Family Action News) continues to increase.
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right to life
Readers Make a Difference
(April 7, 2009) – Recently, Mr. Fowler’s name came up during a House Democratic Caucus meeting in connection with a constitutional amendment on the issue of abortion filed by Rep. Henry Fincher (D-Cookeville). In a recent FAN, Mr. Fowler had explained what Rep. Fincher’s proposal (HJR 61) did, noting that the way it was worded it “constitutionalized” a right to abortion in cases involving the “health” of the mother (as distinguished from the “life” of the mother) and that from a grammatical standpoint it would even provide a constitutional right to have those abortions funded by Tennessee taxpayers.
Apparently, readers in Rep. Fincher’s district decided to take action, forwarding the newsletter to hundreds of others in the district. And, it seems some even took to distributing some leaflets about the bill. Of course, the FAN, being distributed statewide, had not urged any action, but had simply reported on what the bill purported to do. But concerned citizens took it on themselves to become involved.
Apparently it was their activity that provoked the ire of Rep. Fincher, who intimated that Mr. Fowler was responsible for what Rep. Fincher’s fellow Cookevillians did (he probably didn’t like Mr. Fowler’s analysis of his bill either). While FACT can’t take credit for what engaged and informed citizens do with the information they are provided, we’re more than happy to take the heat when their activity encourages accountability. Kudos to the good folks of Cookeville who took their pro-life beliefs seriously enough to act on them.
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special initiatives
FACT Opens New Office in Cool Springs
(April 7, 2009) – April 1 marked an exciting day for the Family Action Council of Tennessee, and not because of April Fool’s antics of any FACT staff. FACT is pleased to announce the opening of a new office, located in the Cool Springs area of Nashville.
“We are thrilled to be moving into a larger office,” said FACT President David Fowler. “We are humbled and grateful for the growth we’ve experienced recently and are thankful we’ll now be able to all work from one location.”
If you would like a tour of our office, have any office items to donate, or would like to pray over the new space, please contact Lauren George at lauren.george@factn.org or (615) 712-1561. Items needed are a good desk, postage scale, paper cutter, and a small refrigerator and microwave.
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News and Notes (April 2009) 
