Ill Conceived

Promise Keepers: 700,000 Dicks Out for Jesus

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Josh and June take a look at Promise Keepers, the organization that massed 700,000 men on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a 1997 rally that promised to bring spiritual renewal to its attendees and a new order to the social health of the country. While they didn't quite pull off the fundamental transformation they were hoping for, Promise Keepers left a significant impact on the evangelical Christian psyche. And somehow, they're still around today, desperately trying to convince the world of their definition of fatherhood and family.

SOURCES:

  • The First Promise Keepers Event: Witnessing the Power of God" by David Roadcup
  • Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes du Mez
  • Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper by Bill McCartney et al.
  • "Promise Keepers pledge to move from stadium rallies to the marketplace" by Adelle Banks, Religion News Service
  • "New Promise Keepers CEO ready to see a revival among men" by Maina Mwaura, The Christian Index
  • "Promise Keepers Pour Into The Nation's Capital" (CNN, 1997)
  • "The Promise Keepers Opens Its Doors To Women" (NPR, 2009)

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    AUDIO CLIPS:

    • 6:18 – Bill McCartney in a profile by WXYZ-TV Detroit (September 24, 1994)
    • 32:46 – Norm MacDonald on Saturday Night Live Weekend Update (October 4, 1997)
    • 33:23 – Joseph Garlington, Promise Keepers worship leader, at the 1997 Stand in the Gap rally
    • 34:55 – Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, on Charlie Rose (October 3, 1997)
    • 36:31 – Huron Claus, Native American Christian evangelist, at the 1997 Stand in the Gap rally
    • 38:00 – Bill McCartney, Promise Keepers founder, on Larry King Live (October 7, 1997)
    • 47:49 – Shane Winnings, current Promise Keepers CEO, on Morning Joe (April 3, 2025)
    • 50:50 – Web trailer for Wake-Up Call, the 2025 Promise Keepers in-person summit in Yakima

      •  

      FOLLOW THE SHOW:

      • Website: illconceivedpodcast.com
      • Bluesky: ‪@ill-conceived-pod.bsky.social‬
      • Tumblr: @illconceivedpod

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        FOLLOW JOSH:

        • Website: joshboerman.com
        • Bluesky: @bosh.worstpossible.world
        • Other podcast: The Worst of All Possible Worlds
        • Stream: Traditional Scrench

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          FOLLOW JUNE:

          • Bluesky: @junlper.beer
          • Other podcast: Western Kabuki
          • Writing: June's Substack
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            Ill ConceivedBy Josh Boerman & June Sternbach
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