A number of individuals, churches and ministries from across the nation have launched The Danbury Institute, a new organization promoting a Christian worldview in an increasingly secular society.
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher believed that Christian-Judeo values were the bedrock of democratic principles. “The truths of the Judaic-Christian tradition,” she said, “are infinitely precious, not only, as I believe, because they are true, but also because they provide the moral impulse which alone can lead to that peace, in the true meaning of the word, for which we all long… There is little hope for democracy if the hearts of men and women in democratic societies cannot be touched by a call to something greater than themselves.”
The institute draws inspiration from the Danbury Baptists of the 18th century, advocating for a renewed engagement by Christians in national leadership roles to steer public policy and opinion toward Judeo-Christian values.
“I am both honored and humbled to endorse and recommend the Danbury Institute,” Richard Land, former president of the Southern Evangelical Seminar told the Christian Post. “Never has our beloved country more needed to be reminded of her founding values of soul freedom and religious liberty so bravely defended by our 18th century Danbury Baptist ancestors. I pray God’s manifold blessings on their noble efforts to protect and restore our sacred liberties.”
The Danbury Institute’s operational strategies, led by COO Collin Hain, will focus on informing and empowering churches and pastors to actively participate in governance. By advocating on behalf of Christian voices in Washington, the organization aims to ensure that Judeo-Christian values continue to inform the nation’s future
In its first six weeks, even before its official launch, the Danbury Institute has been active in advocacy efforts. In Ohio, the organization played a key role in overturning the veto of the SAFE Act, which aimed to protect children from trans procedures and maintain gender-specific spaces. The institute also been involved in national movements, such as the March for Life in Washington, and efforts to oppose legislation that is harmful to family and religious values. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has echoed the sentiments driving the institute, framing the cultural divide as a choice between what she terms “normal and crazy.”
The institute’s CEO, Scott Colter, emphasized the urgency of its mission, saying the status quo no longer can be tolerated and that Christians must actively defend the nation’s values for future generations.
“For far too long, Christians have sat idly on the sidelines, satisfied with the status quo,” he said. “The status quo can no longer be tolerated. We are watching in real time as the sacrifices our great grandparents made to defend our nation are squandered right before our eyes. As a father, I am not ready or willing to say to my children that we gave up and let go of our great nation before it could be preserved for them. We have to stand up and say that we respect life, we love liberty and we will expend effort, time and treasure to protect them.”
More information is available at www.danburyinstitute.org.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice