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McCartney returns to run troubled Promise Keepers

By Jeff Kass, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 10, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.

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Promise Keepers co-founder and former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney has returned to the helm of the religious organization, officials said Wednesday.

The sometimes controversial Promise Keepers has had declining attendance since it peaked in the 1990s and and must now navigate a difficult national economy.

McCartney left Promise Keepers in 2003 citing the failing health of his wife, Lyndi. God had also confirmed to McCartney his "season at Promise Keepers" was complete, organization president Raleigh Washington said Wednesday.

After leaving Promise Keepers, McCartney launched Road to Jerusalem to offer financial and spiritual backing to Jews who have embraced Jesus as the Messiah and generate awareness of the pressures on Israel.

His wife is "still ailing but in complete accord" with McCartney's decision to return to Promise Keepers said general counsel Ed O'Brien, as he and Washington discussed the organization's recent changes.

As of Sunday night McCartney had assumed the duties of CEO and chairman of the board. McCartney then appointed Washington president.

Tom Fortson left as president and CEO over the weekend, as did the former board chairman, Sam Winder.

Fortson's resignation was voluntary, O'Brien said.

Winder also felt his "season at Promise Keepers had been completed," Washington said. Winder proposed McCartney's return because he wanted to put Promise Keepers "in good hands," O'Brien added.

Denver-based Promise Keepers is a nonprofit ministry for men founded in 1990.

A key aspect is featuring Christian fundamentalist speakers in stadiums across the country.

One protest occurred after a speaker equated homosexuals with robbers and murderers.

O'Brien called 1996 the "high water mark" for Promise Keepers. That was when it held 22 stadium conferences that attracted 1.1 million.

In 2006 Promise Keepers held 18 conferences but they only attracted some 132,000.

That number dropped by more than half last year, when only 50,000 attended seven conferences. McCartney, 68, has "explosively exciting plans" that will be announced in the next two to three weeks, Washington said. He added that Promise Keepers and Road to Jerusalem will "no doubt" be ministry partners.

McCartney is not expected to draw a salary from Promise Keepers, Washington said.

Stan Perea, executive director of Thornton-based HIS Ministries, noted that McCartney has a large following and is an effective fund-raiser. "It's probably a positive for them (Promise Keepers)," Perea said.

Comments

  • September 10, 2008

    9:35 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ryeman writes:

    And if it doesn't work out, come back to the Buffs - please!

  • September 10, 2008

    10:33 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    reno_binge writes:

    Well, at least this time, CU students and parents don't have to pay for the PK's thru their tuition dollars like back in the day when Coach McCartney would promote them via the CU podium. I never did like that. I strongly support the division between church and state, and he crossed that line any chance he got -- not appropriate for the highest paid State employee in Colorado.

    That being said, and extreme right-wing reactionary fundamentalist Christian politics aside, McCartney was without a doubt the greatest coach the Buffs ever had. I pray to Jah every night that he makes a comeback to CU Football!

    And i haven't heard this year how his grandson TC, the late Sal Aunese's son, is doing as a college QB. Was it LSU, Tulane?? He's definitely got the genes to be a Superstar.

    I'm no Promise Keeper, but I wish them both well.

  • September 10, 2008

    11:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    luvdnvr writes:

    T.C. McCartney is at LSU in his 2nd season.

    Glad to see Coach Mac back at the helm of PK - it's been some tough years for the organization. I'm hoping he brings it back to national prominence as today's man needs what PK brings more than ever.

    Go get 'em, Coach!

  • September 10, 2008

    11:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    EZBakeOven writes:

    *Yawn*

  • September 11, 2008

    5:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Domino writes:

    Promise Keepers is Christian Fascism.

  • September 11, 2008

    6:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    blacksho89 writes:

    Domino: You have zero idea what you are talking about. Go back, do some research, get a dictionary, and then talk.

  • September 11, 2008

    6:42 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Hambone writes:

    troubled Promise Keepers!!! Awesome!!

    I've never been to a "meeting", but I imagine they're pretty "beige", huh blachsho89?

  • September 11, 2008

    7:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    bira44 writes:

    In the mid-90s, the Promise Keepers had their offices in the same building where I worked. We would often ride the elevator with them.

    They were a surly lot. None of them seemed to understand elevator etiquette. Instead of letting someone get off first, they would always muscle their way in. In the year or so they were there I never heard a conversation that didn't have to do with money. They sounded like that ABBA song. It was all they talked about.

    At that time, they were flying high and a sense of arrogance tainted every thing they did.

  • September 11, 2008

    7:12 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    GK writes:

    Gross.

  • September 11, 2008

    8:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mokey writes:

    At one time, Kiss could fill stadiums. Then they took their masks off.

    The truth can be pretty ugly sometimes.

  • September 11, 2008

    1:36 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Soloist writes:

    PK has had its opportunity, and changes with the organizational leadership will no doubt bring other changes. I heard Raleigh Washington say in the mid-90's on a radio interview that "PK was a move of God for a period of time, and that period would come to an end." So why are he and Mac both returning? Didn't they leave because it was time to leave? Oh well. Time will tell. And, oh yeah ... "elevator etiquette". How many years have you been carrying that grudge? Maybe Newsweek will pick up on your story.

  • September 14, 2008

    10:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jesusaves101980 writes:

    PK is awesome and needs "Coach" back to lead us God's way as it was before. There are Millions of men needing to stand up and pray for this nation, their communities, and their families.

    As for those who criticize what they know nothing about......pretty normal for scared, ignorant, losers!

    Come to Jesus and be the winner that God wants you to be!

  • October 20, 2008

    10:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    N2theSon writes:

    I can't fathom why encouraging men to be faithful to their wives (duh!), serve their families, spend time with their kids and walk in integrity are portrayed as "extreme right-wing reactionary fundamentalist Christian politics" and "Christian Fascism." PK encouraged me to do the dishes rather than channel surf while my wife did them. This is a BAD thing??????