by Michael Howell
Friday, May 8th 2020
DES MOINES, Iowa —
The vice president excluded the largest block of religious Iowans when he spoke with Iowa faith leaders Friday in Des Moines, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa said.
“Interfaith Alliance of Iowa would like Vice President Mike Pence to know that Iowa’s faith community is actually quite diverse and consists of more than the evangelical Christian community,” Interfaith Alliance executive director Connie Ryan said.
Ryan said while they were happy a Catholic bishop and Jewish rabbi were invited to the meeting, but disappointed no mainline protestant denominations were extended an invitation.
"Collectively, the mainline protestant denominations are the largest block of Iowans of faith, and they were left out of the conversation today with the Vice President.”
Pew Research Center data backs up that claim. It says 77% of Iowans are Christian and of that group 30% are mainline protestant. 28% are evangelical while 18% are Catholic.
"If hearing from a variety of faith leaders had been allowed, the Vice President would have learned that the vast majority of Iowa’s faith community does not plan to hold in-person gatherings any time soon," Ryan said.
This echoes a sentiment from 21 denominational faith leaders in Iowa who said earlier in the week, they would refrain from holding in-person gatherings for the time being.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks at a Des Moines church Friday with religious leaders (White House Press Pool)
DES MOINES, Iowa —
The vice president excluded the largest block of religious Iowans when he spoke with Iowa faith leaders Friday in Des Moines, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa said.
“Interfaith Alliance of Iowa would like Vice President Mike Pence to know that Iowa’s faith community is actually quite diverse and consists of more than the evangelical Christian community,” Interfaith Alliance executive director Connie Ryan said.
Ryan said while they were happy a Catholic bishop and Jewish rabbi were invited to the meeting, but disappointed no mainline protestant denominations were extended an invitation.
"Collectively, the mainline protestant denominations are the largest block of Iowans of faith, and they were left out of the conversation today with the Vice President.”
Pew Research Center data backs up that claim. It says 77% of Iowans are Christian and of that group 30% are mainline protestant. 28% are evangelical while 18% are Catholic.
"If hearing from a variety of faith leaders had been allowed, the Vice President would have learned that the vast majority of Iowa’s faith community does not plan to hold in-person gatherings any time soon," Ryan said.
This echoes a sentiment from 21 denominational faith leaders in Iowa who said earlier in the week, they would refrain from holding in-person gatherings for the time being.
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