President Obama announced April 6 the rest of the members of his faith-based advisory council (which includes South Carolina pastor Frank Page), but former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy was not among them.
Tony DungyDungy had been invited to be one of 25 people to serve on the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, it was reported March 31 by U.S. News & World Report. A White House source said Dungy declined the invitation because he would be able to attend only two of four scheduled meetings. Instead, Dungy agreed to advise Obama on fatherhood initiatives.
Dungy said in a statement, “I am honored to have been asked by the President to serve on the Council for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. In looking at the dates of the Council meetings, I would not be able to participate to the degree I would want. Because of the time commitment needed, I have respectfully declined, but do look forward to working with the President in furthering responsible fatherhood and other issues we both hold dear.”
The invitation to Dungy drew criticism from People for the American Way and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. They opposed Dungy’s potential inclusion because of his support for an Indiana constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriage.