NEWS STORY: Democrats Tap First Director of Religious Outreach

c. 2004 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ The Democratic National Committee, believing President Bush’s support among moderate religious voters may be growing soft, has hired its first director to specifically reach out to faith groups. The Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson was named senior adviser for religious outreach on Friday (July 23). She will serve at […]

c. 2004 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ The Democratic National Committee, believing President Bush’s support among moderate religious voters may be growing soft, has hired its first director to specifically reach out to faith groups.

The Rev. Brenda Bartella Peterson was named senior adviser for religious outreach on Friday (July 23). She will serve at least through the November elections.


“Brenda has dedicated her life to showing us all how religion and politics intersect with integrity,” DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said in a statement. “We are proud to have her join the DNC in order to spread John Kerry’s positive vision to people of all faiths.”

Peterson is the former director of the fledgling Clergy Leadership Network, an effort to find a new platform for progressive clergy in politics. She was unavailable for comment.

Peterson is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and a former parish pastor in Georgetown, Ky. She is married to John Lynner Peterson, communications director for the Washington-based Interfaith Alliance.

DNC officials are still unclear what Peterson’s job will entail. Presumably, she will work with other staffers who serve as liaisons to various ethnic, racial and cultural “constituency” groups.

The announcement on the eve of the party’s convention in Boston sends a clear signal that Democrats plan to mount a serious challenge to Bush for the votes of faithful Americans.

Peterson’s public debut will likely come on Wednesday (July 28) at a “People of Faith for Kerry” luncheon in Boston, sponsored by the campaign.

Political observers say the war in Iraq, which was opposed by most churches with the exception of many evangelicals, has damaged Bush’s standing among rank-and-file churchgoers who may not share his conservative views on social issues or are turned off by his evangelical embrace of religious language.


“There are folk who are no longer content to be bystanders, and for religious reason,” said the Rev. Albert Pennybacker, the CEO and chairman of the national committee at the Clergy Leadership Network. “Real religion isn’t how often you pray but how deeply you care.”

Pennybacker said his group is still functioning and hopes to announce Peterson’s successor soon.

Lindsay Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said her party has “several different folks” who reach out to religious groups, but predicted that Kerry’s campaign would gain little traction among people of faith.

“They are going to reject the Kerry-Edwards ticket because that is the most liberal presidential ticket ever,” she said. “They both voted for the war but then voted against funding for our troops, they voted against a ban for partial-birth abortion, they voted against tax relief. People are going to reject this liberal agenda.”

Amy Sullivan, an editor at Washington Monthly who has written about the need for Democrats to not treat religion as radioactive, said Peterson’s appointment may help soften the party’s image on religious issues.

“This is a necessary and encouraging step for the party, and shows a recognition of the role that religion plays in the lives of so many voters,” Sullivan said.

DEA/PH END ECKSTROM

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!