DUNGY’S TURNOVER…. When the White House invited former football coach Tony Dungy to serve on the president’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, there were quite a few groans from progressives. My friends at Americans United for Separation of Church and State and People for the American Way issued statements noting Dungy’s associations with religious right groups and vocal opposition to gay rights.
It appears the matter was resolved today, however, when Dungy withdrew from the advisory board.
Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has fumbled his invitation to serve on President Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, according to CBN’s David Brody. A White House source tells Brody that Dungy couldn’t make two of the four faith council meetings.
“Because of the time commitment needed I have respectfully declined,” Dungy said in a statement to Brody.
The announcement comes the same afternoon as the White House unveiling the official list of the 25-member Advisory Council is part of the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
I don’t recognize every member of the council, but skimming over the names, it looks like a fairly good mix of diverse figures. There’s at least one high-profile conservative — Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus of the Southern Baptist Convention — but there are also some left leaning voices (who take church-state separation seriously) in the mix, including Nathan Diament, Harry Knox, Melissa Rogers, Rabbi David Saperstein, and Dr. Sharon Watkins.
Yes, Jim Wallis is one of the 25. No, Rick Warren isn’t on the list.
