American Vision

American Vision is a United States nonprofit Christian ministry founded in 1978 by Steve Schiffman. It presents itself as an organization dedicated to equipping Christians to influence American public life and to restoring what it describes as the country's biblical foundation. Its work combines publishing, educational activity, conferences, and worldview training directed toward parents, teachers, pastors, Christian activists, Christian schools, and home-schooling families. The organization is associated with Christian reconstructionism and postmillennialism, theological and political currents that emphasize the continuing public relevance of biblical principles and anticipate the eventual expansion of Christianity's influence in society. American Vision has also opposed dispensationalism, a contrasting framework within some evangelical traditions. Its institutional activity has included producing books and other educational materials primarily intended for Christian schools and home educators, as well as training audiences in the development of family-oriented biblical worldviews. The organization has participated in the creation science movement and has hosted an annual Worldview Conference, which has included speakers such as Herbert Titus. American Vision's public positions have included opposition to abortion and arguments about the relationship between Christianity, civil government, and the First Amendment. The organization has maintained that the First Amendment prevents Congress from establishing a state religion or restricting religious exercise, but does not prevent legislators from enacting laws informed by biblical principles. Its past public rhetoric, particularly statements associated with Gary DeMar concerning homosexuality, abortion, Islam, and the possible use of capital punishment, has generated substantial criticism. In 2010, the Southern Poverty Law Center designated American Vision an anti-gay hate group, citing what it described as the organization's support for capital punishment for homosexual conduct. Leadership changed significantly during the 2010s. Gary DeMar served as president from 1986 until 2015. Joel McDurmon succeeded him and led the organization until resigning in March 2019, while DeMar held the position of Senior Fellow. DeMar returned as president after McDurmon's resignation. During McDurmon's presidency, American Vision's public presentation moved away from the earlier position on civil penalties for homosexual conduct. McDurmon argued that punishments traditionally associated with the first table of biblical law had been transferred from earthly civil governments to divine judgment, while maintaining that moral principles remained relevant. American Vision therefore occupies a contested place in discussions of Christian nationalism, the religious right, dominion theology, and Christian reconstructionism.

American Vision was founded in the United States in 1978 by Steve Schiffman as a nonprofit Christian ministry. From its early development, the organization focused on applying a biblical worldview to education, family life, culture, and public affairs. Its activities came to include the publication of books intended primarily for Christian schools and home-schooling families, along with training for parents, teachers, pastors, and activists. The organization also became active in the creation science movement and established an annual Worldview Conference featuring speakers associated with Christian political and theological activism. American Vision's intellectual identity developed around Christian reconstructionism and postmillennialism. It has promoted the idea that biblical principles should shape social institutions and public policy, while opposing dispensationalism. Its stated mission has involved preparing Christians to restore what it regards as America's biblical foundation. This has placed the organization in the wider network of Christian reconstructionist, dominion-theology, evangelical, and religious-right movements, although those categories encompass a range of organizations and positions. Gary DeMar became president in 1986 and remained in that position until 2015. During his tenure, American Vision became known not only for educational and publishing work but also for forceful positions on controversial political and moral questions. The organization opposed abortion and argued that the First Amendment's prohibition on establishment of religion did not prevent lawmakers from adopting legislation informed by biblical teachings, provided that Congress did not establish an official state religion or prohibit religious exercise. Statements attributed to DeMar concerning homosexuality, abortion, and Islam drew criticism because they addressed severe criminal penalties and described Islam as a threat to constitutional freedoms. In 2010, the Southern Poverty Law Center designated American Vision an anti-gay hate group. The designation was linked to what the organization described as support for the death penalty for practicing homosexuals. This became one of the most prominent controversies associated with American Vision and shaped outside discussion of its public reputation. Leadership changed in 2015 when Joel McDurmon became president and DeMar moved into the role of Senior Fellow. During McDurmon's leadership, American Vision publicly moved away from the earlier position concerning civil-government punishment for homosexual conduct. McDurmon stated that punishments associated with the first table of biblical law had been transferred from earthly civil governments to divine judgment, while arguing that the underlying moral principles remained binding. McDurmon resigned in March 2019, after which DeMar returned as president. American Vision's documented work therefore spans Christian educational publishing, worldview instruction, conferences, creation-science advocacy, and political-theological commentary. Its history is marked by continuity in its reconstructionist and postmillennial orientation, but also by leadership changes and public controversy over how biblical law should relate to the modern state, sexuality, abortion, religious liberty, and Islam.

• 2019

  Gary DeMar returns to the presidency

  [1]American Visionen.wikipedia.org

  DeMar resumes the presidency in March 2019 after McDurmon resigns.

• 2015

  Joel McDurmon becomes president

  [1]American Visionen.wikipedia.org

  Joel McDurmon succeeds Gary DeMar as president, while DeMar becomes Senior Fellow.

• 2010

  Southern Poverty Law Center designation

  [1]American Visionen.wikipedia.org

  The Southern Poverty Law Center designates American Vision an anti-gay hate group in connection with positions attributed to the organization and Gary DeMar.

• 1986

  Gary DeMar becomes president

  [1]American Visionen.wikipedia.org

  Gary DeMar begins a presidency that lasts until 2015.

• 1978

  American Vision is founded

  [1]American Visionen.wikipedia.org

  Steve Schiffman establishes American Vision as a United States nonprofit Christian ministry.

A Christian ministry and educational publisher focused on biblical worldview formation, Christian reconstructionist thought, and the application of biblical principles to family, education, culture, and public life.

• Books and educational publishing

  Christian educational books

  American Vision publishes books and related educational material primarily intended for Christian schools and home-schooling families. The publications support the organization's broader objective of developing a biblical worldview and connecting Christian theology with education, family life, culture, and public affairs.

• Training and ministry education

  Biblical worldview training

  The organization trains parents, teachers, pastors, and activists in developing family-oriented biblical worldviews. The training reflects American Vision's Christian reconstructionist and postmillennial framework and is intended to help participants interpret social and civic questions through biblical principles.

• Conference

  Worldview Conference

  The annual Worldview Conference is an American Vision event focused on biblical worldview formation and Christian engagement with society. Its speakers have included Herbert Titus and other figures associated with Christian theological and political activism.

• 2010

  Anti-gay hate-group designation

  The Southern Poverty Law Center designated American Vision an anti-gay hate group, citing statements and positions connected with support for capital punishment for homosexual conduct. The designation became a major source of criticism and controversy surrounding the organization.

  Source

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• 2015

  Leadership transition to Joel McDurmonStrategy

  Background

  After Gary DeMar's long presidency, American Vision appointed Joel McDurmon as president and moved DeMar into a Senior Fellow role.

  Action taken

  McDurmon assumed the presidency while DeMar continued with the organization as Senior Fellow.

  Aftermath

  The transition was followed by a public move away from the earlier position on civil-government punishment for homosexual conduct.

  Source

1. 1American Visionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Vision official websiteamericanvision.org