Christian Summit Brings Faith, Controversy

Several hundred Christian activists from all over the country are expected to attend the family values summit at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon.

There will be nationally-known speakers such as Gary Bauer, Ken Blackwell and Katherine Harris. The event's organizer says it's being held to get out their message of 'community decency' and religious freedom.

But one political observer says there's other reasons for the timing. First, Christian activists want to have an early influence in the presidential campaign. And second, they don't have the same kind of dominant position in the Republican Party.