ONE OF LARGEST CHRISTIAN FUNDING SOURCES JOINS FORCES WITH OBAMA FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR AND PRO-ISLAM FOUNDATION, TO LURE BIBLICAL CONSERVATIVES INTO THIRD WAY ” PRINCIPLED PLURALISM”.
Rev Thomas Littleton 3/8/2020
A new “Report” called “Christianity, Pluralism, and Public Life in America: Insights from Christian Leader” was introduced by The Trinity Forum on February 25th 2020. The report authored by The Obama Foundation’s Michael Wear and Wheaton political science professor Amy Black is the product of funding from the founder of Ebay and carries the endorsement of ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE SOURCES OF FUNDING flooding into churches and ministries across the nation. National Christian Foundation (NFC) is a Georgia based organization with state and regional chapters around the country. NCF has some limited historic involvement with conservative Christian political organizations but has never openly allied with such progressive partners as Wear and the backers of his report
Funding for the Obama operative Wear’s “REPORT” comes from the Democracy Fund of Ebay founder turned political donor Pierre Omidyar who has some disturbing history with investments and pro Islamic policies . (More on Democracy Fund recipients later)
NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION GOING POLITICAL ?
NFC was historically a minor player in Christian focused philanthropy having given away around one billion dollars over its 24 year history. HOWEVER that changed when the Obama administration launched reforms for Faith Based Partnerships (FBP) where Michael Wear, as Obama’s Faith Ambassador, was charged with recruiting participation by evangelicals. Conservatives generally refused Government entanglements and the political strings attached to them. Many Christian leaders appear to have found the Obama era tax dollar tsunami of funding too much to resist.
In concert with FBP funding, beginning around 2010 NCF funding into select ministries and churches swelled from 1 billion in 24 years to over a billion dollars PER YEAR. This happened under the leadership of people from organizations like Leadership Network and Half Time who had worked with the very same forces who had shaped the FBP during the Clinton era Welfare Reforms.
NCF continues to infuse billions into churches and ministries and FOR THE FIRST TIME IN IT’S HISTORY is openly endorsing a document focused on public life, in particular politics and shockingly is doing so by ENDORSING THE OBAMA FOUNDATION’S Michael Wear and his “Third Way” narrative on Pluralistic Society straight out of the far left. Multiple indications exist here that the FBP and NCF funding groundswell were previously linked and aimed toward the present political trajectory. Michael Wear might be the person to confirm or deny that.
If the movement was not coordinated in 2010 -it certainly is converging today.
VOICE OF THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT IS NOW COMING FROM THE LEFT.
NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION FINANCIALS
https://www.ncfgiving.com/our-financials/
2018 filings
NCF MAKES “DISTRIBUTIONS TO AND FOR CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND OTHER CHARITIES”
2018 990 total -$1,437,418,669
Totals shown 2014 -2018- $6,501,808,978
“ORGANIZATIONS EXIST TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN THE UNITED STATES
NATL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FDN, INC. 58-1493949
THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (NCCF) AND ITS SUPPORTING
BY MAKING GRANTS TO 501(C)3 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS FROM DONOR ADVISED
FUNDS, WHICH ENABLE DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE ASSETS AND THEN RECOMMEND
GRANTS FROM THE FUNDS TO CHARITIES – IN MOST CASES, CHRISTIAN
CHARITIES. IN 2018, NCCF AND ITS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS ACCEPTED MORE
THAN $1.437 BILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTED TO APPROXIMATELY
24,000 CHARITIES TOTALING $1.511 BILLION. NCCF PERSONNEL ASSESS AND
QUALIFY GRANTEES; THEREFORE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES
ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM SERVICES COMPONENT OF EXPENSE.”
NOW NCF/OBAMA FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR/ TRINITY FORUM HAVE JOINED FORCES PROMOTING A POLITICAL NARRATIVE FUNDED BY EBAY FOUNDER DEMOCRACY FUND.
Some of the same groups and leaders that 5 years ago were demeaning the political engagement of Christian Conservatives are now openly attempting to lure them into progressive political postures of Third Way compromise in the name of being “mature believers” and recognition of the “Value of Pluralism ” .When you hear the word’s “pluralism” or principled pluralism , civil engagement , common ground for the common good, Social and Economic Justice and working together to ensure “human flourishing” ,this ideology, for Biblical Conservatives, is the language of political seduction. Today it is everywhere in Christian media ,on seminary campuses, campus ministries, conferences and now openly in THIS revealing new partnership from the Trinity Forum. Now a third way coalition is being sought by carefully crafted rhetoric and power players from the left including the Obama Foundation.
THE REPORT AND ITS PURPOSE
Michael Wears website and Trinity Forum:
Evening Conversation | Christianity, Pluralism, & Public Life
“On February 24th, the Trinity Forum hosted an Evening Conversation with Michael Wear, Dr. Amy Black, Bishop Claude Alexander, and Rev. Canon Peg Chemberlin. They discussed the report co-authored by Michael Wear and Amy Black—Christianity, Pluralism, and Public Life in America: Insights from Christian Leaders.”
SOME HISTORY OF TRINITY FORUM AND SOROS /WEAR/ RUSSELL MOORE AND PRO ISLAM IMMIGRATION REFORM.
Michael Wear, Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist ERLC and Trinity have been working together in staging Trinity events in DC for years with the Soros funded National Immigration Forum and the Evangelical Immigration Table.
https://immigrationforum.org/article/ltw19speakers/
Conversation 2: A Civil Discourse
“The extreme polarization in our political parties has become a barrier to compromise and progress on policies that could improve our country and the American people. Our country’s biggest challenges have become political battlegrounds, no better example than the current immigration debate. These highly regarded and influential thought leaders joined us to discuss how we can bridge ideological differences and come together for meaningful change.”
 Cherie Harder
President The Trinity Forum
|
 Dr. Russell Moore
President Ethics & Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention |
 Michael Wear
Chief Strategist The AND Campaign
|
The Trinity trio have also called for AMNESTY based approach to Immigration Reform that includes”Restitution” for illegals already in country
MORE ON THE NEW EFFORT PARTNER DETAILS
NF & Veritas Forum
present:
“Hope for the Current Age”
JD Greear, President, Southern Baptist Convention
Omar Suleiman, President of the Yaqeen Institute
NC State March 5, 2020
WEAR / TRINITY DONOR
for Ethics and Public Policy, The Center for Public Justice, The Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts, the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities, the Christian Community Development Association, private Christian foundations, national
student organizations, and institutions of higher learning.”
TRINITY FORUM THOUGHT LEADER OS GUINNESS BETRAYAL ?
Many feel OS Guinness being part L’Abrieg and a disciple of Francis Schaeffer that Guiness has “lived off the legacy of Schaeffer and that now Guinness support of Social Justice and Cultural Marxism ideologies is a betrayal of Francis Schaeffer legacy. ”
Again Guinness is a thought leader in Tim Keller’s organization The Gospel Coalition.
SOME OF THE 50 EVANGELICAL CONTRIBUTORS TO “Christianity, Pluralism, and Public Life in America: Insights from Christian Leader”
Collin Hansen
Editorial Director, The Gospel
Coalition
NOTE- Hansen is Tim Keller protege’ who in appeared on ABC with the TGC reveal of its own political third way operation.
From ABC interview -“Evangelical leader believes we live in ‘a culture full of fear and loathing’
Hansen confirmed that TGC was founded to straighten out the political engagement of conservative evangelicals like those who voted for Donald Trump.
More interviewees
Elder Jack N. Gerard
The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
Dr. Timothy Dalrymple
President and CEO, Christianity
Today
Deacon Charlie Echeverry
National Chair, Communications,
Catholic Association of Latino
Leaders (C.A.L.L.)
Andy Crouch
Partner for Theology and Culture,
Praxis
Shirley V. Hoogstra
President, Council for Christian
Colleges and Universities
NOTE-Hoogstra is also part of the Neighborly Faith Christian Muslim Dialog and is pushing for Fairness for All LGBTQ compromise funded by Paul Singer
Tom Lin
President/CEO, InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship
Dr. Mark Noll
Emeritus Professor of History,
University of Notre Dame
Kevin Palau
President, Luis Palau Association
Rev. Jim Wallis
President and Founder,
Sojourners
Jenny Yang
Vice President of Advocacy and
Policy, World Relief
Dr. Ed Stetzer
Billy Graham Chair of Church,
Mission, and Evangelism,
Wheaton College; Executive
Director of the Billy Graham
Center, Wheaton College
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
Lead Pastor, New Season,
Sacramento, CA; President,
National Hispanic Christian
Leadership Conference
Tony Perkins
President, Family Research
Council
MORE ON TONY PERKINS /FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL PARTNERSHIPS
NOTE: Many Conservatives see Perkins and Family Research Council as a champion in the public forum but here he is collaborating with the Obama Foundation’s Ambassador Michael Wear. Why?
Worldview Weekend /Brannon Howse extensive research in 2012 reported in the book RELIGIOUS TROJAN HORSE that Perkins has a long history of questionable partnerships.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17213487-religious-trojan-horse
(These include Perkins years of work with the heretical New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) documented below from pages 336,337, 339 , 353 of Religious Trojan Horse )
” These spiritual enterprises of the New Religious Right seem to be a regular occurrence. On January 3, 2012, for instance, the website of Cindy Jacobs reported that representatives of the Family Research Council would be joining Mike and Cindy Jacobs, along with NAR “prophet” Dutch Sheets, for “a night of intercessory prayer.”As far back as 2008, the president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, wrote on the FRC blog about taking part in “prophet” Lou Engle’s rally on the mall in Washington, D.C. Perkins reported that “I was able to join Lou Engle for
about half of the 12–hour event.” (443)….”Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council also appeared on (Rick ) Joyner’s Morning Star program. Ironically, Perkins once sat on the couch across from Joyner and declared, “We need men who rightly discern the times and can rightly divide the Word of God…”445 I believe if Tony were rightly dividing the Word of God, he would not be participating in the online TV program of Rick Joyner and
speaking at a function for Rick Joyner’s Oak Initiative.446 ”
BACK TO THE TRINITY/ WEAR COLLABORATORS
Dr. Jacqueline Rivers
Director, The Seymour Institute
for Black Church and Policy
Studies
Dr. CJ Rhodes
Pastor, Mt Helm Baptist Church,
Jackson, MS
Bob Roberts
Global Senior Pastor, Northwood
Church, Keller, TX
NOTE- Bob Roberts is one of the most aggressive pro Islam “pastors” in America and is a leader/ contributor in the “Christian and Muslims Together ” campus movement for Christian College and Universities called “Neighborly Faith ” which held meeting sat Wheaton in November 2019 sponsored /hosted by Ed Stetzer’s Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism- even though the ideology of the movement is not evangelistic but designed to address “Islamaphobia” in the students and encourage them toward interfaith dialog and relationships .
WEAR PROMOTING THE EFFORT HERE COMES STRAIGHT FROM HIS WORK WITH THE OBAMA FOUNDATION AS IT’S “AMBASSADOR TO AMERICA’S BELIEVERS”.
“As one of President Obama’s “ambassadors to America’s believers” (Buzzfeed), Michael directed faith outreach for President Obama’s historic 2012 re-election campaign. Michael was also one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history: he served in the White House faith-based initiative during President Obama’s first term, where he led evangelical outreach and helped manage The White House’s engagement on religious and values issues, including adoption and anti-human trafficking efforts.”
“Michael is also the founder of Public Square Strategies LLC”
Wears Public Square Strategies is one of the three backers listed in the Report.
THE NEW PARTNER NCF AT THE TRINITY TABLE:
NCF HAS INFUSED BILLIONS IN MINISTRIES OVER THE LAST DECADE AND IS PART OF THE “GENEROSITY MOVEMENT “SEEKING TO HARNESS TRILLIONS FROM BABY BOOMERS AS THEIR WEALTH PASSES HANDS.
BOB BUFORD “HALFTIME BRAND ” LEADERS
Many of Bob Buford’s Half Time brand leaders are involved in these circles including at NCF and at Civilitas . Tim Keller is a Buford/ Leadership Network disciple and is in on the ground level of the GENEROSITY MOVEMENT effort. Buford boasted in the book “The World We (Globalist) Want” that his efforts with Half Time and Leadership Network had “primed legions of wealthy Christians to become big time philanthropist” AND that he (Buford) could deliver this legion into the hands of “The World We Want” leadership.
Page 215 Chapter “Generosity and Sacred Search : Motivation ”
https://www.tpi.org/resources/the-world-we-want-new-dimensions-in-philanthropy-and-social-change
NOTE- The outcome of the book on PHILANTHROPY where Buford boast his intentions is political and driven by Globalism and “Social Change”
“The book weaves together multi-sector ( i.e. FBP) , multidiscipline strategies, but—in large part—it is about the power of human connection, reinforced by personal stories of motivation and the human capacity for caring. Without ignoring the institutional and cultural obstacles, and the courage needed to face down the dark side of human behavior, Karoff shows how citizen engagement and open source solutions could tip the scale toward a better world.”
NCF NOW LED BY BUFORD HALF TIME ASSOCIATES.
NOW NCF IS ENDORSING OBAMA FOUNDATION THIRD WAY POLITICS !
“How Christians can make positive contributions to public life”
“By 2045, the racial composition of America is predicted to look substantially different than it does now. It is estimated that the nation will become “minority white,” and Hispanics will account for about a quarter of the population.”
“The nation’s religious makeup is changing as well. More than three-quarters of senior citizens in America identify as Christians – but for those under 30, only about half do. The largest religious shift of the last decade has been described as the rise of the “nones” – those who claim no religious affiliation.”
“Meanwhile, a very different set of trends is at play in other corners of the world. In contrast to the U.S., the percentage of religious disaffiliated is declining. While there are fewer Christians who report that faith is important in their lives in the U.S. and Europe, Christianity is spreading rapidly in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, China, and other places.”
“We are in uncharted waters.”
“In some communities, these kinds of efforts exist, but could be expanded. In others, new efforts may need to be initiated. Similarly, as religious disaffiliation grows and the percentage of Christians declines, the need grows stronger for broadly Christian institutions that can articulate Christian principles in a publicly accessible way.”
“This essential work should be embraced, supported, and even expanded. Finally, if public life and politics are important (as we believe they are) Christians and churches may want to partner with political organizations – explicitly faith-based and not – who align with their values and mission, in a similar way as they partner with organizations focused on missionary work, global development, disaster relief, and other areas of concern.”
NCF OUTLINES WEAR DOCUMENT GOALS
NCF STATED GOALS in supporting the Trinity Forum /Obama Foundations Michael Wear
Work to connect Christian thought to public life
“Many Christians … are not well equipped to connect the teachings of their faith with its implications for public life.”
Reintroduce Christianity
“Building on this idea of what pluralism requires of Christians, we believe Christians should view rising religious disaffiliation and secularism as not just a challenge, but an opportunity.”
Build bridges
“In a pluralistic environment, diverse relationships and interactions are essential to living out the command to love your neighbor.”
Be distinct
“Diversity alone doesn’t make for healthy pluralism. Pluralism is healthy when people feel they can enter the public as they are, free to express themselves without fear. ”
NCF” This text was excerpted from The Trinity Forum’s report, Christianity, Pluralism, and Public Life in the United States. The report was co-authored by Michael Wear, Founder of Public Square Strategies, and Amy E. Black, Professor of Political Science at Wheaton College (IL).
EBAY FOUNDERS DEMOCRACY FUND
The Ebay Founder is listed on the Muslim Heritage site “Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization”
https://muslimheritage.com/people/scholars/pierre-omidyar/
MORE on Ebay founder
MORE on his work as a donor
DEMOCRACY FUND SUPPORTS THESE EFFORTS
- Fostering a just and inclusive society and protecting those Americans whose civil rights and safety appear to be endangered in this emerging landscape.
- Ensuring government accountability and protecting our system of checks and balances.
- Convening analysts and scholars from across the political spectrum to examine and glean insights from the evolving views of the electorate through the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group.
“Grantees include: ProPublica, the Center for Investigative Journalism, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Civic Nation, the German Marshall Fund, the Project on Government Oversight, the Security and Rights Collaborative, and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection.”
ONE EXAMPLE OF THEIR FUNDING TOWARD PRO ISLAMIC POLICY
https://www.democracyfund.org/portfolio/entry/civic-nation
CIVIC NATION
“Our current political climate has left notions of equality and tolerance to fall to the wayside of hate and fear. While this division affects a wide variety of people, the rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions must specifically be addressed. To do this, community organizing needs to be supported by a strategic, wide-reaching messaging campaign. This grant supports Civic Nation in their partnership with NBC Universal on the Erase the Hate campaign.”
https://www.democracyfund.org/portfolio/entry/institute-for-social-policy-understanding
The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU)
“The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) is an organization focused on providing objective, solution-based research to educate the general public on trends that are affecting the American Muslim community, and enable change leaders, media actors, and policy makers to make informed decisions. Their research aims to empowers American Muslims to develop communities that fully contribute to democracy and increased unity in the United States.”
https://www.democracyfund.org/about-us#investment-criteria
CONCLUSION
Clearly the work of Trinity Forum, The Obama Foundation’s Michael Wear , and now National Christian Foundation in it’s first openly political stance is revealing a set of core values these organizations and individuals share for the church. It is political and it is Third Way.
Third Way is already deemed a political failure from its origins in Fabian Socialism , Tony Blair, the Labor Party in the UK and Bill Clinton in the US.
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/01/third-way-democratic-socialism-tony-blair-bill-clinton-uk
The conclusion is that Third Way’s “FAILURE” has now become the open door for Socialism,
“The Third Way Is the Past. Socialism Is the Future.”
True to form with progressive agendas, we may very well be seeing the original intent as the seminaries, denominations and churches are being overwhelmed by “social justice” intersectionality, liberation theology ,and “critical theory” along with the dregs of post modern “thinking” .That is, if you dare believe minds awash in critical theory are any longer capable of critical thinking.
A unique & crafted brand Socialism is FLOODING THE CHURCH.
History proves a challenge to assertions that a Third way even exist and it is likely that a generation of preachers are already lost to the seductions we see revealed here. The church- the true Body of Christ will no doubt endure but will suffer loss from this ill advised voyage and sadly many souls will likely perish as a result of it.
SOCIAL CHANGE HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE CHURCH AND WE WILL ALL PAY THE PRICE.
Apparently ALL of the Trinity Forum / Wear partners also fit into the pro Muslim, progressive political ideology and goals of the Democracy Fund and its founder. Trinity, Wear, NCF, and Guinness have close ties to Tim Keller and The Gospel Coalition which continues to be the “force for social change ” among conservative churches especially in the PCA and SBC.
Now NCF which is one of the largest donors in the nation to Christian ministries is openly endorsing the “Christianity, Pluralism, and Public Life in America: Insights from Christian Leaders”
How is that possible that NCF and Trinity Forum now find allies among these pro -Islamic organizations like the Obama Foundation and Democracy Fund? One answer is simple. There is a lot money in the room. Billionaires like Soros , Singer and Omidyar are well inside the door with leading ” Christian thinkers “.
What does this mean for the church given the slick “Pluralistic” rhetoric of the Trinity Forum/Wear report?
Time will tell if the grassroots conservative Christians will buy the narrative.
It appears many if not most of the Christian Leaders has already sold out to it.
“Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. “But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim –for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God–
otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice”
thirtypiecesofsilverdotorg 