Faith Leaders Stop By Oskaloosa To Promote Bachmann

Danny Carroll speaks with those gathered Tuesday in Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa, Iowa – With the state’s pastors and various faith leaders crossing the state in a show of support for Michele Bachmann, the fight for the sector of voters that helped to propel Mike Huckabee into the lead in Iowa is in full swing.

In a press release covering the tour, “We are here to say that Michele Bachmann is a principled leader and Christians should stand up and be counted.”

So with these words, the group is taking action and crossing the state in hopes of gelling the fractured Christian community. “The scriptures make it clear that we should choose leaders who fear God, are capable, trustworthy and keep his commandments. Michele Bachmann does exactly that,” said Pastor Matt Floyd of Osceola.

I was curious of how the group is looking to bring Christian Iowans together. Reverend Cary Gordon has openly endorsed Rick Santorum, another candidate running on Christian principles.

Gordon has openly spoken about his mistrust of Gingrich, and says that if Santorum was not to get the nomination, he would be happy with Bachmann getting the nod.

To complicate things more, The Family Leader who is headed by Bob Vander Plaats, has yet to endorse a candidate after their November forum.

Pundits believe that a Newt Gingrich endorsement is on the horizon.

Gingrich has yet to sign “The Marriage Vow – A Declaration of Dependence Upon Marriage and Family.” Instead, he stated, “I appreciate the opportunity to affirm my strong support of the mission of the FAMiLY LEADER by solemnly vowing to defend and strengthen the family through the following actions I would take as President of the United States.” Gingrich then went on to state actions in his letter.

Will this be enough to sway The Family Leader to endorse the current front runner? If they do endorse, will this be seen as repayment of the support Gingrich had shown during the groups fight to have three Iowa Supreme Court Justices removed?

So how will Iowa voters be able to make sense of various faith leaders around the state dragging their preferred candidate into the spotlight saying this one or that one is the better biblical choice? With the division, more than likely they will be doomed to not have their voice heard.

I posed this question to Former State Rep. Danny Carroll of Grinnell and the pastors who had assembled at Pizza Ranch in Oskaloosa Tuesday over the lunch hour. Carroll said, “If I can get enough of those 60 to 70 percent undecided to show up and vote for Michele [Bachmann], perhaps I, and some of these folks can overcome the endorsement of Cary Gordon and Bob and The Family Leader for whom I work.”

Carroll said in response to my question if this will create any office tension, “No, not really”.

And there in lies the state of confusion among Christians in this caucus. Carroll worked with Bob Vander Plaats in helping to remove the Iowa Supreme Justices. A pastor in attendance who is listed as part of the tour, Rev. Bill Tvedt of Oskaloosa, has worked with Gordon at the PeaceMakers Institute in the past.

Tvedt’s wife Julie spoke about Bachmann at the luncheon stating, “I would just hope that nobody would vote for Michele Bachmann because Danny Carroll said to, or for Rick Santorum because Cary Gordon said to, or for Newt Gingrich because somebody else said to. I would hope that we would all do what my husband [Bill Tvedt] and others here are talking about. Looking at the facts, looking at her [Bachmann] record, looking at her qualifications and go that way, not because a man said so.”

Also included was a letter of recommendation from Bachmann’s own pastor, James M. Hammond. “There is only one candidate that I am certain has this level of commitment to the principle of God’s Word, and that is Michele Bachmann. I am certain because I am her pastor, and over a number of years have worked with and observed Michele as a Minnesota State Senator, a U.S. Congresswoman, and a wife and business partner to her husband, Marcus.”

Those who are part of the tour in support of Bachmann are listed in the press release as: Pastor Brad Cranston of Burlington, Tamara Scott of Norwalk, Pastor Michael Demastus of Des Moines, Pastor Matt Floyd of Osceola, Pastor Bill Tvedt of Oskaloosa, Pastor Richard Kessler of Richland, Pastor Jamie Strickler of Fairfield and Pastor Bernie Hayes of Cedar Rapids. The group is being led by Former State Rep. Danny Darroll of Grinnell.

With the January 3rd date for the Iowa Caucus quickly approaching, will the Iowa Evangelical Christians be able to gel behind a single candidate like in the past, or will egos get in the way?

The tour finishes up on Thursday with stops in Council Bluffs and finally in Sioux City, just in time for the Fox News Debate.

Diane Mortensen contributed to this story