Freedom Writer - April 1994

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National Religious Broadcasterssnub Clinton at annual shindig

Washington, DC -- With almost 4,000 in attendance, this year's National 
Religious Broadcasters (NRB) January 30th through February 1st conference 
in Washington DC set a near-record. The NRB conference is the single-most 
representative organization of the imposing conservative Christian 
radio and television broadcast industry. (There are 1,566 religious 
radio stations, and 274 religious TV stations in the U.S.) Anyone 
who is anyone in the Religious Right makes the annual pilgrimage. 
Hundreds of broadcast ministries, and companies selling products to 
the industry, operate booths at NRB. 

The fast-growing Keystone Inspiration Network (TV), of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, 
returned again this year. Picked up in about 120 cities, this "family" 
network carries Pat Robertson's "700 Club," Jerry Falwell's "Old Time 
Gospel Hour," Morris Cerullo, James Robison, Benny Hinn, and the controversial 
Pete Peters. Peters, pastor of the LaPorte (Colorado) Church of Christ, 
publishes and distributes the anti-Semitic book _The_Protocols_of_
the_Elders_of_Zion_. He is also the author of an anti-Semitic booklet, 
_The_Real_Hate_Group_, and _Death_Penalty_for_Homosexuals_Is_Prescribed_
in_the_Bible_. Peters attended NRB, spending much of his time at the 
Keystone Inspiration Network booth.

Some have questioned the presence of a rabid anti-Semite on a so-called 
"Christian" station. The Rev. Clyde Campbell, Keystone's comptroller, 
told _The_Freedom_Writer_, "Some people have questioned Peters' presence 
on Keystone," but said that the station previews his programs for 
anything distasteful.

"Peters is a minister of the gospel and he does a good job," Campbell 
said. "Pete says he loves the Jews," Campbell continued. "The only 
thing I have against Pete Peters," Campbell said, "is the continual 
harping on the Old Testament. I think his attitude on killing homosexuals 
or lesbians is unloving. Jesus provides a better way." Campbell also 
said that he questioned Peters' viewpoint on prostitution. "I think 
that stoning prostitutes and their customers is off-base." Knowledge 
of this would please another ministry carried by Keystone, that of 
Jimmy Swaggart. 

In contrast to recent years, the 1994 conference's political overtones 
were subdued. This may be attributed to the "Conference on Reclaiming 
America," held just days before at the Rev. D. James Kennedy's Coral 
Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Many of the 
more than 2,000 in attendance at Kennedy's political conference flew 
directly to Washington, DC for the NRB convention.

Usually, the president of the United States addresses the NRB gathering. 
This year was an exception, as explained in a statement released by 
the NRB Executive Committee. "In recent years, it has been the decision 
of the NRB leadership to invite the President of the United States 
to address the annual convention. This has always been a nonpartisan 
choice, with both Republican and Democratic Presidents participating. 
However, for the '94 convention it was the decision of the Executive 
Committee that no invitation will be extended.

"As believers, we are admonished to pray for those in authority, and 
commit ourselves fervently to that task. However, we cannot give a 
platform to a leader who so aggressively supports and puts forth policies 
and positions which are blatantly contrary to scriptural views."  

About a dozen of the NRB's board of directors are also members of 
the secretive Council for National Policy. They include James Dobson, 
D. James Kennedy, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Tim LaHaye. 

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Copyright 1995 IFAS
The Freedom Writer / ifas@crocker.com

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