The spiritual leader of the U.S. Senate will not make a speaking appearance at an upcoming conference on Christianity and public service after all.
According to the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, Senate Chaplain Barry Black has reneged on his agreement to speak at the group's March 2 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Black said he had determined that his "nonpartisan role as chaplain conflicts with the conference agenda." But the cancellation came after Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote a letter to Black complaining about the appearance. The group's objection was apparently prompted by a promotional photo of Black with conservative author Ann Coulter, another conference speaker.
Dr. Gary Cass, executive director of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, said Black's withdrawal was a disappointment -- especially since the conference is a nonpartisan event.
"It is a missed opportunity to benefit from his thoughts on the intersection of Christian faith and public service," he said.
In an unrelated move, Cass said Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has been added to the conference schedule in place of Dr. D. James Kennedy.
Kennedy, founder of the center and its parent, Coral Ridge Ministries, is recuperating from a cardiac arrest suffered last December.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To see the list of speakers, and to learn more about the conference, visit the center's Web site.
(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)
