Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 11:2 (Spring 1997)
Article: Defining The New Christian Man An Investigation Into Books Related To The Promise Keepers Movement
Author: William H. Lockhart

PP 11:2 (Spring 1997) p. 21

Defining The New Christian Man An Investigation Into Books Related To The Promise Keepers Movement

William H. Lockhart

As the role of men in families is debated in America, since 1991 the rapidly expanding evangelical “Promise Keepers” men’s movement has sponsored conferences filling major sports stadiums. This organization aimed to reach over a million men in 1996_y and to sponsor a million man strong prayer rally in Washington, DC, in 1997. Christian bookstores are creating new “men’s” sections for the many new books on masculinity being produced by most of the conservative Protestant publishing houses. A survey of these books shows that the books do not display a monolithic “return to traditionalism” approach to the changing issues of gender and family relationships. Instead there are at least three additional approaches to gender issues: 1) seeking the “essence(s) of masculinity” by the use of archetypes drawn from psychology, 2) helping men to build new egalitarian relationships with their sisters in Christ,” and 3) a pragmatic approach from family counselors seeking to help men communicate and help families stay together. These alternative approaches provide room for evangelical men to maintain evangelical distinctives yet also cope with changing social realities. The Promise Keepers movement by the official use of their name seems to be endorsing the pragmatic approach rather than a pure return to traditionalism.

An estimated three-quarter to one and a half million men attended one of twenty-two regional “Promise Keepers” stadium events during 1996. Where did this movement come from?

On March 20,1990, Bill McCartney, the football coach at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and a member of the charismatic Vineyard Church in Boulder, traveled with Dave Wardell, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in Boulder, to an FCA meeting in Pueblo, Colorado, where McCartney had been asked to speak about his Christian faith. In the context of praying and worshipping together as they traveled, McCartney asked Wardell: “What do you feel is the most important factor in changing a man’s life spiritually, from immaturity to maturity?” “Discipleship” was Wardell’s immediate answer.1 McCartney then turned to Wardell.

“I want to share something with you,” McCartney said. “I have this vision that by the year 2000, every football stadium across America will be filled with men—across racial lines. We can turn this thing around.” “What thing?” Wardell asked. “Our nation,” McCartney said. Shortly after that trip McCartney [and Wardell] founded Promise Keepers.2

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