The Rise and Fall of the Christian Coalition: The Inside Story

by Joel D. Vaughan

Publisher:

Resource Publications

, 2009

Overview

Christian Coalition experienced a meteoric rise in American politics in the 1990s only to see its profile and impact vanish into embarrassing irrelevancy at the end of the decade, leaving many to ask, "Whatever happened to the Christian Coalition?" Joel Vaughan offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Christian Coalition, once the pre-eminent, conservative grassroots political organization in America. Working closely with founder Pat Robertson, President Don Hodel, and wunderkind Executive Director Ralph Reed, the author reveals in a captivating manner the factors that caused the rapid growth of this astonishingly successful organization, and the internal strife that led to its tragic and rapid decline. Containing useful insights for leaders about organizational dynamics and grassroots movements of any kind, The Rise and Fall of the Christian Coalition shows how people of faith can become more effective at making their voice heard in local, state, and national elections, as well as many obstacles and ambitions to avoid. Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a song about a young man who went to work for the British Admiralty and "polished up the handles so carefully" that he became ruler of Queen Victoria's Navy. Joel Vaughan rose from volunteer to Deputy Field Director and, ultimately, to the dual positions of Assistant to the President and Director of Administration. He brings an insider's intimate knowledge of the explosive growth and the ultimate crisis in leadership of Christian Coalition. Full of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and revelations, this book is a "must read" for every person interested in American politics who wants a better idea of the pro-family movement and its foremost organization, as well as those interested in the Do's and Don'ts of running a nonprofit organization.

Praise for The Rise and Fall of the Christian Coalition

"As someone who knows Joel Vaughan from our days working together at the Christian Coalition, I highly recommend his book. If you want to know the truth of what happened, this book is a must read." 
--Chris Freund, Vice President, The Family Foundation 

"In a thorough and entertaining manner, Vaughan's The Rise and Fall of the Christian Coalition captures the essence of the Coalition, its leaders, and the political environment in which the group rose to prominence, as well as how it ultimately dwindled into insignificance. All students of political history and social movements will benefit from Vaughan's fair-minded recounting of this unique period of our history, when Christians were able to mold the political landscape in a manner few would have ever believed possible. And those who witnessed this remarkable organization's dramatic evolution will find Vaughan's 'behind the scenes' insights to be both illuminating and engaging."
--Rusty Leonard, CFA
Founder and CEO of MinistryWatch.com

"Joel Vaughan relies on neither gossip nor guesswork in this compelling book. His is an insider's account; ten years at the Christian Coalition and an easy writing style provide the reader with a ringside seat to one of the most controversial--and consequential--periods in modern American political history."
--Kellyanne Conway
President and CEO,_ WomanTrend

Christian Coalition: A Tale Well Told
Review by Professor Alan Snyder
 
This new book by Joel Vaughan traces the history of the organization called the Christian Coalition. The title is accurate: it rose and it fell.
 
I was drawn to the book not only because I am acquainted with Joel, but also because I used to be a Christian Coalition county director back in the early 1990s, when I taught at Indiana Wesleyan University. Then, when I moved to Regent University, I was just down the street, more or less, from the Coalition's headquarters, and a number of my students in the master's program in government worked there. I attended the annual Road to Victory conferences in Washington, DC.
 
There are so many tell-all books in the market that I wondered how Joel was going to handle this one. He was with the Coalition almost from the start, and was one of the last to leave before it rapidly disintegrated. How could he tell the tale well, being honest about its demise without being censorious?
 
Well, I believe he has accomplished that nearly impossible task. It is evident from the first pages that he shared the vision of Christians influencing public policy and making their voice heard in politics. He speaks of the sincere, genuine believers who wanted to make a difference, and he points to the many ways Christian Coalition achieved its goals during the 1990s. It's obvious he loved being a part of it.
 
When he turns to the downfall, he does go into the problems in a straightforward manner, clearly showing why it fell. Yet even as he spells out the issues and talks about the people who made bad decisions, he does so in a thoroughly Christian way. This is not a bitter memoir; instead, it carries a tone of sadness--an appropriate tone because what happened was a tragedy. A Christian voice in politics became a mere shadow of what it once had been.
 
I appreciate the Christian spirit in the book. In effect, Joel Vaughan has provided a case study of the highs and lows of Christian political involvement. We can read this book and learn significant lessons about how we should go about our involvement, as well as how to avoid the common errors: overextending ourselves financially or losing the humble servant heart.
 
Next year, I plan to use this book in a new course I'll be teaching called Biblical Worldview and Public Policy. It will be a valuable guide for this new generation of Christian leaders. I'm hoping this account of a high-profile Christian political organization will help them carry the work forward and do so in the right spirit.
 
Professor Alan Snyder

Product Details

• Title : The Rise and Fall of the Christian Coalition: The Inside Story
• Author: Vaughan, Joel D.
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Publication Date: 2009
• ISBN: 9781621892120

About the Author

Joel D. Vaughan is Chief of Staff for Focus on the Family, a multi-national Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive. He served with the Christian Coalition from 1989 to 1999 in positions ranging from volunteer, to Deputy National Field Director, to Special Assistant to the President and Director of Administration. He has been Vice President of a political advertising firm, and has worked on political campaigns. He holds a B. A. in economics and business, and an M. A. in theology. He and his wife, Kellie, reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with their two children.