Helping Democrats Bridge the 'God Gap'

· The Theologian : Shaun Casey, an ethicist at Washington's Wesley Theological Seminary, who provides a moral and historical framework for progressive faith-based politics.

· The Preacher : Leah Daughtry, chief of staff at the Democratic National Committee, who champions outreach to religious voters at party headquarters.

· The Model : Timothy M. Kaine, governor of Virginia, who showed Democrats how a faith-infused campaign can turn a red state blue.

· The Insider : Michael McCurry, former White House press secretary, who coaxes Washington Democrats into sharing their spiritual sides.

· The Blessed One : Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, who challenges his party to make room for religion in the public square.

· The Prophet : Rabbi David Saperstein, head of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, who is one of Washington's most articulate voices in liberal politics.

· The Matchmaker : Burns Strider, a staffer who shepherds the House Democratic Faith Working Group and corrals lawmakers into meetings with the religious community.

· The Agitator : Amy Sullivan, an independent but opinionated journalist who pens passionate pleas for Democrats to "get religion."

· The Strategist : Mara Vanderslice of the consulting firm Common Good Strategies, who works the campaign trail, helping candidates build relationships with diverse religious communities.

In some ways, these 12 people reflect the diversity for which Democrats pride themselves. They include a former Churches of Christ minister, a Pentecostal preacher, two Catholics, a Methodist Sunday school teacher, an Episcopalian, a progressive evangelical, Baptists and a rabbi.

Some at Democratic Party headquarters are taking an under-the-radar approach to religious outreach and are reluctant to divulge all the party's plans and advisers.

"Our focus is not in putting someone behind a pulpit," said Leslie Brown, the DNC's "faith in action" coordinator. But after conducting polls, meeting with state party chairs and undertaking an "internal education," Democrats are building a "message-driven machine," Brown said.

"We want to talk about things in ways we can relate to the faith community," said Rep. Clyburn, who heads the Faith Working Group. "I don't talk about the environment just as keeping things green, I talk about it in terms of stewardship."

But while recent polls suggest evangelicals may be growing disillusioned with Republicans, many are still reluctant to pull the lever for Democratic candidates, said the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

"Simply using 'faith language' won't redound to the benefit of any candidate, Republican or Democrat, without some authenticity there," Cizik said.

"When evangelicals think about the reputation of the Republican Party, which isn't too good right now, at least it does have a record of reaching out to those voters and it does have a record on Capitol Hill of at least trying to carry water for their issues," Cizik said.

Still, there are issues such as the environment, poverty, war and health care on which Democratic positions dovetail with those of many religious Americans, party leaders say.

"It's not always pretty," Casey of Wesley Theological Seminary said of Democrats' fledgling efforts to reach these voters. "But the good news is everybody realizes the party has to do a better job."