Behind the Curtain: Fundamental Pharmacists

Last week a friend, who is in healthcare, and I were discussing pharmacists, the pill and religion. She stated that there are many more pharmacists out there who would refuse to fill birth control prescriptions than we even realize. I wondered, with that intellectual curiosity that the current President lacks, where are these pharmacists coming from? What colleges are they going to? How are they paying for 5-6 years of college? Are there scholarships available only to Christians to attend universities and get a Pharmacology degree? So in e pluribus media style, I googled, and below the jump is what I found. What frightens me the most is that I am sure there are many more organizations like Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International.

Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI) is a worldwide ministry of individuals working in all areas of pharmaceutical service and practice. Our Mission is to:
·    Provide fellowship among like-minded professionals
·    Challenge and promote spiritual growth
·    Encourage the advancement of knowledge and ethics in the practice of pharmacy
·    Encourage evangelism and the integration of faith into practice, and
·    Provide support and opportunity for service in both home and foreign missions. "

CPFI Scholarships are currently available at the following colleges and universities: University of Iowa, Oregon State, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University in Ft Lauderdale. One may assume from the CPFI guest book that scholarships are available at University of Pittsburgh, WV University, and University of Connecticut.

But who is the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International, besides a 501(c) 3 organization? A little CPFI history here:

The Christian Pharmacists Fellowship international (CPFI) was officially incorporated as a tax exempt, nonprofit corporation in the State of Virginia in 1984. Its beginnings can be traced to informal gatherings at several national pharmacy meetings starting in the late 70's. The Board members are representative of a broad range of Christian denominations including Baptist, Catholic, Church of Christ, Methodist, Pentecostal, Mennonite and nondenominational churches.

~snip~

The Fellowship seeks to identify and enroll all Christian pharmacists, wherever they practice and assist them in creating opportunities to meet and fellowship. CPFI is the first international organization of evangelical Christian pharmacists established with a focus on integration of the spiritual and vocational dimensions of the pharmacist's role. The doctrinal basis is Biblical in perspective and origin, evangelical in scope and is comparable with all the major Christian denominations.

I guess UCC's, UU's and Episcopalians need not apply.

Denying birth control pills is just the beginning. The CPFI beliefs and doctrine:

·       We believe the Bible, in its original languages to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
·    We believe in one God, maker of all things, eternally existent as: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the Holy Trinity.
·    We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, true man and true God; conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.
·    We believe that the Lord Jesus lived a sinless life, performed miracles, was crucified for our sins, was buried, bodily resurrected, and ascended to the right hand of the Father.
·    We believe that man is made in the image of God and that since the fall; all men are born as sinners unable to save themselves.
·    We believe in the personal salvation of believers through the substitutionary sacrificial death and shed blood of Jesus Christ - being justified by faith alone.
·    We believe in the future return of the Lord Jesus in power and glory.
·    We believe in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, indwelling each believer, transforming us and enabling us to live a Godly life.
·    We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust; those who are saved to everlasting blessedness and those who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
·    We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the most interesting things about CPFI, is their annual meeting. Here is the brochure from 2004. Classes like " On the Road to Abilene: Is It Wise to Deny God Admission to Pharmacy School?" were taught last year. In 2004, for the first time the meeting was held in Colorado Springs, Co and has a connection to guess who....James Dobson's Focus on the Family! If you attended the annual meeting in CO, you had an optional, free tour of Focus on the Family HQ, but you had to register first.  

This year CPFI's annual meeting will be held June 10th-15th in Spring Maid Beach (Myrtle Beach), South Carolina. The theme - "Transforming the Soul of Pharmacy: One Pharmacist at a Time". Each meeting has a similar tone such as the 2001 theme "Healing with the Great Healer". Any DKos pharmacists want to crash their 2005 meeting?

And the DNS info on Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International website:
Registrant Organization: Christian Pharmacists Fellowship
Registrant Street1:221 Franklin Dr.
Registrant City: Blountville
Registrant State/Province: TN Registrant Postal Code:37617-4543
Webmaster info: [e-mail]
Admin Name: CPFI
Admin Organization: CPFI Webmaster
Admin Street1: Ronald Herman
Admin Street2: 1939 Calvin Ave.
Admin City: Iowa City
Admin State/Province: IA

And interestingly enough there is a Louisville, KY technical connection to the CPFI's website. Probably the same people who are sponsoring this Sunday's Anti-Democratic rally with Sen. Frist.

Tech Name: Network ** Operations
Tech Street1: 540 Baxter Avenue
Tech City: Louisville
Tech State/Province: KY
Tech Postal Code: 40204

Later I will to look into the guest speakers at past meetings and research their connections to mainstream academia. I'm also still curious where the money comes from and how generous the scholarships are. Need to make a few phone calls first.