Christian Group Wants Politics at the Pulpit

Nathan Burchfiel | Correspondent | Updated: Jul 27, 2004

Christian Group Wants Politics at the Pulpit

(CNSNews.com) - Abortion, homosexual marriage and the role of God in American society are the three topics on which the National Clergy Council believes all of its members should educate all of their congregants. And the Council wants its members to do so on the Sunday before this year's presidential election.

"Pastors hold a very high place of respect in the eyes of their congregants," National Clergy Council President Rev. Rob Schenck said, "and the pastor has an enormous influence on the thinking of the members of his congregation."

Schenck said his group wants to use that influence to reach congregants with a message focusing on "the sanctity of human life, the sanctity of marriage and the role of God in our nation's life."

It's a philosophy that mirrors the views of President Bush and most Republicans, but Schenck hopes his members will address the topics not in terms of politics but in terms of a "moral and spiritual reformation." He said the group would also provide methods to remain politically neutral while presenting information on moral issues.

The IRS recognizes churches as tax-exempt organizations, but that status requires that groups not endorse political parties or candidates. As a result, Schenck said, pastors often worry that discussing political issues will threaten their tax-exempt status, alienate congregants or reflect poorly on the church.

"It's not liberal or conservative that matters" according to Schenck. What matters "are the core issues that are involved with the Gospel and with Christian moral teaching."

Rob Boston, spokesman for the group, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said the National Clergy Council is going over the line.

"What the National Clergy Council is asking clergy to do is essentially stand up in the pulpit and say, 'George Bush agrees with us on these issues and John Kerry disagrees with us,'" Boston said.

"In the context of a campaign, the IRS has said that ... making it clear which candidate you favor and which you don't can be construed as a backdoor form of endorsement," Boston added. "And religious leaders need to be careful about that."

It doesn't matter whether the politics from the pulpit favor conservative or liberal candidates, Boston said. All of it is wrong, in his judgment. "There are some things going on primarily in African-American, Democratic-leaning churches that are equally inappropriate," he said, referring to the invitations for Democratic leaders to speak at churches with primarily black congregations.

Schenck told CNSNews.com that pastors would be given information on candidates' positions "not in words about them, but in their own words." He said the clergy members would also be given sermon outlines that explain how "voting is actually a spiritual act."

"Whether one party comes out on top or the other is a non-issue," Schenck said. "What we hope and pray is that the right moral and spiritual outcomes will result from the elections. It's up to the parties themselves to decide whether they want to be a part of that moral and spiritual reformation," he added.

Christian Group Wants Politics at the Pulpit