(2) 1989-2000

Between his arrival in Australia in 1989 and his appointment to a position with the National Civic Council’s (NCC) ‘Australian Family Association’ early in 1992, Bill Muehlenberg immersed himself in the conservative side of Australian political culture. AD2000, an NCC publication, told its readers that Muehlenberg:

… who is a Baptist, is a graduate from Wheaton College and the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in the United States and has had extensive experience in research and library work in the Netherlands and US. He was until recently head of the environmental policy uni[t] at the Institute of Public Affairs in Melbourne. He is the author of ‘Modern Conservative Thought: an Annotated Bibliography’, published by the Institute of Public Affairs. - (Introduction to) Bill Muehlenberg ‘Christians and the “Green” prophets of doom: the need for scepticism’, AD2000, Aug. 1990, 4

By 1990, Muehlenberg regarded himself as sufficiently knowledgeable about Australian conservative politics to send a letter to Quadrant magazine, deploring the ‘overly divisive and contentious‘ infighting between his fellow conservatives here. (Quadrant, Dec. 1990, 3) (I defer here to current usage of the term ‘conservative’ as Muehlenberg might more correctly be described as a ‘radical religious reactionary’ or some similar term. He certainly does not wish to preserve Australian society in anything like its current form. I will return to this question later.)

In 1991, he favourably reviewed a book by Phyllis Schlafly, leader of the anti-feminist (American) Eagle Forum, in the Australian Family Association (AFA) journal. A biographical note said that Muehlenberg ‘has written for a number of Australian conservative journals, including “Quadrant”, “IPA Review” and “News Weekly”.’ His degrees were now described as ‘a BA in Philosophy (Chicago) and a MA in Theology (Boston)‘. - The Australian Family, Dec. 1991, 34

Muehlenberg then launched upon his unparalleled career as a spokesperson and/or leading figure in several of the most significant Australian Christian right organisations. Nobody else comes close to matching the breadth of his experience in this area. Early in 1992, he was appointed National Secretary of the AFA, which reported that:

[Muehlenberg] is currently working on a PhD in Philosophy at Deakin University. [He has] previously worked for ‘Quadrant’ magazine and the Institute of Public Affairs. Bill takes over the administration of the AFA and the editorship of the Journal and ‘Update’. - AFA Family Update, Mar-May 1992, 2

To develop a point which I raised in the previous blog, it seems surprising to me that Muehlenberg was able to secure positions with well-established right-wing entities such as Quadrant magazine and the Institute of Public Affairs quite as easily as he did. He presumably offered these employers some impressive references, but their provenance remains a mystery.

In 1994, Muehlenberg was appointed Secretary of the National Civic Council-dominated Family Council of Victoria, a position he still holds. - Focus on the Family Australia Focus Review, July 1996, 1. This is a small organisation with tantalising links to the National Civic Council, Federal Cabinet Minister Kevin Andrews, ‘fringe’ Christian churches such as the Mormons and the Unification Church (’Moonies’) and the ubiquitous Youth With A Mission.

In October 1994, Muehlenberg joined the foundation Board of the Melbourne-based Salt Shakers group - ‘Wanted! Bill Muehlenberg for Salt Shakers …’ (insert), Salt Shakers Newsletter [SSN], Mar. 1998. He continued in his position at the AFA until mid-1996 when he was appointed National Research Coordinator, Focus on the Family Australia (FOFA) - Focus Review, op. cit. At the time, he reiterated that:

My … qualifications include a BA in Philosophy (Chicago), an MA in theology and ethics (Boston) and ongoing PhD work in ethics at Deakin University, Melbourne … [D]o keep me covered in your prayers. Being on the front lines can be a trying experience … - ‘A word about the editor’, FOFA Family Forum, Sept. 1996, 3

By about 1996 or 1997, he had become a National Executive member of the dominionist-oriented National Alliance of Christian Leaders.

Late in 1996, FOFA disclosed that Muehlenberg was only working part-time for them owing to a shortage of funds. Not for the last time in Bill’s career, his employers launched an unsuccessful bid for funds to support their enthusiastic researcher and writer. - ‘Can you help?’, Family Forum, Nov. 1996, 4

But about a year later, Bill’s luck finally ran out and there also seem to have been differences of opinion over the future direction of FOFA. Salt Shakers reported that:

Unfortunately for Bill, he recently lost his position at [FOFA] due to a shortage of finances … We have always wanted him to work for Salt Shakers … We want to employ Bill for three days a week … - SSN, Mar. 1998, op. cit.

The money was raised and Muehlenberg was given a part-time job as an ‘article writer’. - SSN, May 1998, 2. However, by January 1999, further appeals for funds to keep him at Salt Shakers had fallen on deaf ears and his position disappeared:

He will still be assisting us voluntarily and he and Averil are continuing as Board members … Bill is also aiming to complete his studies in the hope of seeking full-time employment in the lecturing area. - SSN, Mar. 1999, 17

By the end of 1999, the Muehlenbergs no longer appeared on the list of Salt Shakers Board members although they remained on good terms with this group - SSN, Oct. 1999, 2 - and by February 2000, Bill had been re-employed as National Secretary by the Australian Family Association. - Muehlenberg, letter to Melbourne Age, 18 Feb. 2000. By this time he was also ‘teach[ing] ethics and apologetics at several Bible colleges in Melbourne‘ while continuing work on his ‘PhD in ethics’ through Deakin University. - ‘Christian compassion and injecting rooms’, New Life, 3 Aug. 2000

I will have more to say about Muehlenberg’s doctoral studies in the next blog.

[To be continued. Comments and contributions are welcome.]

Filed in: Christian Right, People