Ill Conceived

Promise Keepers: 700,000 Dicks Out for Jesus

Listen Later

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)

    •  

    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

        •  

        FOLLOW JOSH:

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

          •  

          FOLLOW JUNE:

          • Bluesky: @junlper.beer
          • Other podcast: Western Kabuki
          • Writing: June's Substack
            • ...more
            View all episodesView all episodes
            Download on the App Store
            Ill ConceivedBy Josh Boerman & June Sternbach
            • 4.5
            • 4.5
            • 4.5
            • 4.5
            • 4.5

            4.5

            270 ratings

            More shows like Ill Conceived

            View all
            Trillbilly Worker's Party by Trillbilly Worker's Party

            Trillbilly Worker's Party

            1,950 Listeners

            TRASHFUTURE by TRASHFUTURE

            TRASHFUTURE

            588 Listeners

            Some More News by SomeMoreNews | PodcastOne

            Some More News

            2,591 Listeners

            Behind the Bastards by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

            Behind the Bastards

            15,650 Listeners

            Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast by Lions Led By Donkeys

            Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast

            1,799 Listeners

            QAA Podcast by Julian Feeld, Travis View & Jake Rockatansky

            QAA Podcast

            4,308 Listeners

            It Could Happen Here by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

            It Could Happen Here

            6,259 Listeners

            Well There‘s Your Problem by WTYP is Justin Roczniak, November Kelly, Liam McAnderson, and friends.

            Well There‘s Your Problem

            1,324 Listeners

            Kill James Bond! by November, Abigail, and Devon

            Kill James Bond!

            444 Listeners

            Guys: With Bryan Quinby by Bryan

            Guys: With Bryan Quinby

            971 Listeners

            Better Offline by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

            Better Offline

            599 Listeners

            Kill The Computer by mail@westernkabuki.com

            Kill The Computer

            380 Listeners

            The Worst of All Possible Worlds by Josh Boerman, A.J. Ditty, and Brian Alford

            The Worst of All Possible Worlds

            142 Listeners

            Weird Little Guys by iHeartPodcasts and Cool Zone Media

            Weird Little Guys

            1,036 Listeners

            No Gods No Mayors by The Office of the Mayor

            No Gods No Mayors

            111 Listeners