Christianity Today staff heavily donated to Democratic campaigns from 2015 to 2022.
The Influence of Christianity Today: A Closer Look
The media has always portrayed Christianity Today, founded by Billy Graham in 1956, as America’s most influential Christian news outlet. The Washington Post, for instance, regularly describes it as evangelicalism’s “flagship” magazine, as does The New York Times. However, a review of federal election records suggests that the views of the magazine’s leadership and staff may be far out of step with ordinary evangelicals.
Executive Donations
Between 2015 and 2022, nine Christianity Today employees made 73 political donations. Surprisingly, all of these donations went to Democrats. This includes President and CEO Timothy Dalrymple, who gave $300 to failed Georgia Senate candidate Sarah Riggs Amico.
Amico’s platform, which includes protecting abortion “without exception” and repealing the Hyde Amendment, sharply contrasts with the views of evangelicals who overwhelmingly say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. She is also at odds with traditional Christian beliefs on gender, sexuality, and religious liberty.
Along with declaring herself a “staunch LGBTQ ally,” Amico promised to support the Equality Act, a bill that The Heritage Foundation warns would threaten parental rights and religious freedom. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler described the Equality Act as the greatest threat to religious liberty in the United States.
Dalrymple was not the only member of the magazine’s executive ranks to donate to Democrats. Natalie Lederhouse, Vice President of Advertising and Partnerships, contributed $50 to the 2020 Biden Victory Fund. The Federal Election Commission has no records of any Christianity Today executive giving to the GOP since 1991.
Journalistic Standards
The Society of Professional Journalists holds that editorial staff should never contribute to candidates or campaigns. Most large secular news outlets, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and NPR, abide by these standards and have disciplined or fired reporters who violated them. Yet two editors at Christianity Today contributed to Democrat campaigns while covering politics.
Between October 2019 and November 2020, news editor Daniel Silliman made eight donations to five different pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ candidates, including Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. Silliman also authored several political articles for the magazine. Emily Lund, assistant editor and editorial resident, donated to the Democratic National Committee during her time at Christianity Today.
Despite these donations, Timothy Dalrymple claims that his staff’s views are more balanced than their political donations suggest. He also mentioned that the outlet’s new editor-in-chief, Russell Moore, does not believe reporters should make political donations.
The Most Powerful Voting Bloc
Evangelicals are considered America’s most powerful voting bloc, representing 31% of the electorate and largely supporting the GOP. They hold conservative views on life, sexuality, and gender. However, many conservatives feel that Christianity Today is attempting to shift the opinions of evangelicals by promoting left-wing policies.
Recent articles from Christianity Today have advocated for gun control and other progressive policies, while ignoring important issues to evangelicals such as transgender surgeries on minors and gender indoctrination in schools.
As a result, many evangelicals no longer feel represented by Christianity Today and believe the magazine has strayed from its biblical moorings.
Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis warns readers to be aware of the magazine’s bias, as the political donations of its staff confirm their worldview priorities.
What steps can political campaigns or parties take to ensure that media outlets like Christianity Today adhere to standards of fairness and balance?
To political campaigns or parties in order to maintain their objectivity and independence. However, it seems that the staff at Christianity Today may not be adhering to these standards.
In addition to the executive donations, a closer look at the magazine’s editorials and articles reveals a clear bias towards liberal and progressive ideologies. While it is not uncommon for media outlets to have a certain ideological leaning, it is important for a publication that claims to represent Christianity to be fair and balanced in its reporting.
One example of this bias can be seen in the coverage of the 2020 Presidential election. Christianity Today published an editorial in which they endorsed Joe Biden, citing his character and his commitment to “principles that are consistent with our biblical beliefs.” However, many evangelicals would argue that Biden’s positions on abortion, LGBTQ rights, and religious liberty are in direct opposition to biblical teachings.
Furthermore, the magazine has often been critical of conservative politicians and policies, while giving little coverage or praise to those who align more closely with evangelical values. This raises questions about the objectivity and integrity of their reporting.
The influence of Christianity Today cannot be underestimated. With a large readership and a reputation for being the voice of mainstream evangelicalism, their views and opinions have the potential to shape the beliefs and attitudes of millions of Christians. This is why it is crucial for the magazine to accurately represent the beliefs and values of the broader evangelical community, rather than promoting a narrow and politically motivated agenda.
In conclusion, while Christianity Today may claim to be the most influential Christian news outlet in America, its leadership and staff seem to be out of touch with the majority of evangelicals. The donations to Democratic candidates, coupled with the clear bias in their reporting, raise concerns about the magazine’s objectivity and its ability to accurately represent the values and beliefs of the Christian community. It is important for Christians to critically examine the sources of their news and ensure that they are receiving information that is fair, balanced, and aligns with their own biblical convictions.
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