Renewal or Ruin?

As General Conference approaches take time to watch this video on the tactics and policies of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD).

Delegates and interested observers alike will notice that many of the petitions submitted to this year's General Conference were crafted and sponsored by IRD staff members, John Lomperis and Mark Tooley. (To see which ones are IRD sponsored, simply look through the Advance Edition of the Daily Christian Advocate available through Cokesbury. The names of the sponsors are listed following each petition in the DCA.)

Below is a brief description of the film, Renewal or Ruin?, written by the producer, Steve Martin.

The Institute on Religion and Democracy's Attack on the United Methodist Church

Since its beginning in 1982, the Institute on Religion and Democracy has continuously undermined the United Methodist Church and other mainline Protestant denominations by attacking the character of church leaders. This organization, funded by some of the world's most powerful foundations, undermines the witness of the church by fueling controversy to its own benefit.

"Renewal or Ruin?" looks into the IRD's claim that it exists to renew the spiritual life of the church. Researchers, church leaders, and others talk about their findings and experiences with this Washington, DC organization that foments dissension in the body of Christ.





"Renewal or Ruin?" from Steven D. Martin on Vimeo.