Institute on Religion and Democracy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

IRD logo.

The Institute on Religion and Democracy is a conservative religio-political watchdog group in the United States. The IRD describes itself as "an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches’ social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad." ^[1] Notable members of the organization's Board of Directors include journalist Fred Barnes, Dr. Thomas C. Oden, Dr. Robert P. George, philosopher Michael Novak and theologian George Weigel.

1 Background
2 Funding
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Background

Since 1981 the IRD has worked toward two objectives: ^{[citation needed]}

Influence US domestic and foreign policy with a conservative Christian viewpoint.

Reform the mainline American Protestant denominations. The IRD views the mainline denominations as being endangered due to their clergy and leadership having surrendered to secular and leftist political influences.

[edit] Funding

Like many religious nonprofit organizations, IRD receives funding from a mixture of foundations and individual donations. IRD's income is derived from membership drives, literature sales, individual and church contributions, and foundation grants. The group's income for 1982 totaled $352,659. Of this, $200,000 came from Scaife Family Charitable Trusts/Scaife Foundations and $81,000 from the Smith Richardson Foundation. (1,4,8) IRD also received a $44,000 grant from USIA in 1985. (4,10) In 1985, IRD received grants of $5,000 from the Adolph Coors Foundation, $64,000 from the John M. Olin Foundation, and $90,000 from the Smith Richardson Fdn. In 1986, it received grants of $75,000 from the John M. Olin Fdn, $45,000 from the Smith Richardson Fdn, and $100,000 from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation." ^[2]

[edit] See also

Balkan Action Committee
Citizens for a Free Kuwait
Coalition for a Democratic Majority
Committee for the Free World
Committee for the Liberation of Iraq
Committee for Peace and Security in the Gulf
Committee on the Present Danger
Prodemca (Friends of the Democratic Center in Central America)
Project for the New American Century
Project for the Republican Future

While IRD board members may have connections with some of the above groups, IRD does not work either directly or indirectly with any of them. IRD has not taken an official stance either for or against issues such as the Iraq War.