Premature Obituary

The Washington Post has published a story about "Christian Coalition Shrinks as Debt Grows." Here's a quote:

The Christian Coalition is still routinely included in meetings with White House officials and conservative leaders, and is still a household name. But financial problems and a long battle over its tax status have sapped its strength, allowing it to be eclipsed by other Christian groups, such as the Family Research Council and the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.

There's no doubt that the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is at the peak of its political influence. The SBC itself has plateaued and is declining as a percentage of the population. The influence of the Family Research Council has been in decline since Gary Bauer left. The Christian Coalition still has the most influence and credibility with Charismatics, Pentecostals, and other evangelicals that emphasize ecstatic manifestations of spirituality.