If it seems as though CMC isn’t like most Christian advocacy groups, that's because
it isn't.
We aren't fully associated with either conservative or liberal political philosophy
because we look to the Bible, the Word of God, as the sole source of our wisdom.
We're different from other grassroots organizations because we pursue biblical truth
wherever it leads us. As our founder, Rod Parsley, has often said, to be morally
consistent is to be politically unpredictable.
To learn more about what we believe, see the “
Get
Educated” section of this website.
How can I contact The Center for Moral Clarity?
- Postal mail: The Center For Moral Clarity, P.O. Box 32903, Columbus, Ohio 43232-0996
- Phone: (614) 837-1990, ext. 236
- E-mail: info@centerformoralclarity.net
Who do I contact if I am having a problem with the CMC website?
E-mail:
webmaster@centerformoralclarity.net
How can I stay informed on the crucial moral issues that affect us all?
- Click here
to become a member of the Center for Moral Clarity. It's free, and it allows us
to begin sending you regular e-mail updates.
- Keep reading this website! It's updated weekly - and sometimes more often - with
timely information about the crucial moral issues of the day.
- You can also visit the Get Educated links for summaries of key issues facing
our culture. Each link in that section provides a summary of a vital moral issue
and an appropriate Christian response.
How can I get involved in the Center for Moral Clarity?
The first step is to
become a member of The Center for Moral Clarity so you can begin receiving
weekly email updates and informative newsletters that will keep you current on the
issues important to our faith and families. Our weekly e-mails often include action
alerts which allow you to contact your government leaders on issue of critical importance.
Is it really important for me to call my U.S. Senators and Member of Congress?
Only if you're satisfied with the way things are in this nation! America is facing
critical issues that can dramatically change the moral climate of our society, and
it's vital that Christians make their voices heard.
Officials in Washington, D.C., and at the state level were elected to represent
us, and they take input from their constituents seriously. If we don't voice our
concerns and indicate how we want them to represent us, they will only hear from
people opposed to biblical values.
Phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails are part of an elected representative's
everyday life, and they welcome your correspondence.
We’ve made it easy for you to locate contact information for your federal and state
representatives
here.
As a Christian, how can I know which legislation I should support?
CMC highlights the key pieces of legislation that are important to our faith and
family on this Web site. The
Current Issues links provide a description of
bills of interest, who is sponsoring them and CMC's position, as well as all the
information you need to make an impact in your community.
Does Rod Parsley have ministry materials I can purchase?
The
Breakthrough Shopping Center
contains products relevant to the issues Pastor Parsley is addressing through The
Center for Moral Clarity.
As a pastor with a church that operates as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization,
what are my boundaries as it relates to politics, elections and lobbying?
The following free documents detail the "dos and don'ts" for pastors and ministries.
How can I obtain copies of Rod Parsley's
books on moral issues?
You can buy copies of Silent No More, Culturally Incorrect and Living on
Our Heads
here.
Does Rod Parsley hate homosexuals?
Not at all! Rod Parsley feels great compassion for men and women who choose a homosexual
lifestyle, and wants them to know the healing, deliverance and forgiveness from
sin that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Rod Parsley does takes issue with the militant agenda of the homosexual lobby -
which seeks to radically re-define marriage and family in this nation in ways that
are clearly unbiblical. State constitutional amendments defining marriage as the
union of one man and one woman, and the federal Marriage Protection Amendment, are
a response to the activities of this lobby, not an attempt to impose a Christian
theocracy on America.
Does Rod Parsley hate Muslims?
Rod Parsley loves people and opposes the belief systems that keep them from the
truth in Christ. Islam is one such belief system. There are two types of Muslims
in the world - those who love peace and radical Muslim extremists, who interpret
the Quran as a license to impose Islam by force upon all who are not adherents.
Peace-loving Muslims need the full support of all Christians. In fact, many peace-loving
Muslims are appalled at what is being done in the name of their religion. They were
horrified by the events of September 11, 2001, and they are appalled by the actions
of suicide bombers across the world.
Christians must provide understanding, cooperation, support and friendship to peace-loving
Muslims throughout the world who share our desire for democracy and peace.
How is CMC different from other pro-life, pro-family organizations?
CMC approaches moral issues from a biblical worldview, and doesn't involve itself
with matters that are primarily economic in nature. You won't hear CMC take a position
on tax cuts, gun control or foreign policy, except as they relate to the critical
moral issues of life, faith, marriage, family, religious liberties, social justice
and citizenship.
Because it adheres to a biblical worldview, CMC is often inaccurately labeled exclusively
as a politically conservative organization. The truth is that
Rod
Parsley is not affiliated with either political party. You're just as likely
to hear Rod Parsley decry the evils of racism and poverty as to argue forcefully
for pro-life and pro-family values.
Rod Parsley is driven to speak on moral issues by biblical truth, not by partisan
agendas.
Does Rod Parsley want to change this nation into a Christian theocracy, rather
than a democracy?
Absolutely not! Rod Parsley speaks God's truth about moral issues, but he realizes
those truths do not resonate with everyone – and when they do, it may be for a host
of reasons.
Like other leaders, he advocates for positions on moral issues based on his convictions.
In his case, those convictions are determined in the Word of God. Sometimes, that
conviction coincides with the majority view - for example, the view that marriage
is designed to be the union of one man and one woman. Sometimes, his conviction
coincides with a minority viewpoint - for example, his firm belief that human embryonic
stem-cell research should be forbidden because it is the destruction of nascent
human life.
America is a democracy, and on any given issue many competing worldviews vie for
the public's attention. Rod Parsley is convinced that a Christian worldview must
be represented in America's marketplace of ideas, and he formed CMC to provide a
platform for that worldview.
Does CMC endorse candidates for public office?
No, because that would be illegal. CMC is an outreach of World Harvest Church, and
is bound by federal Internal Revenue Service regulations that prohibit him from
endorsing political candidates. Clergy of all faith expressions have been prohibited
from endorsing candidates for the past 50 years.
Pastor Parsley is a firm supporter of federal legislation that would return to members
of the clergy the right to endorse candidates, which they had for more than 150
years after the founding of our nation. Until that law is passed, CMC is committed
to complying with existing law.
CMC Founder and President Rod Parsley has, on occasion, made personal endorsements
for candidates. When he has done so, he has been careful to make clear that his
endorsement derives from himself individually, and not from any of the ministries
he leads. For example, he has never used a CMC publication to communicate his endorsement,
nor has he issued an endorsement from the tabernacle of World Harvest Church.
Is CMC affiliated with any political party?
No! Rod Parsley often says, "I'm not a Republican or a Democrat - I'm a Christocrat!"
CMC's views on moral issues transcend political parties, and are taken irrespective
of which party is more likely to adopt them. We strive to be morally consistent,
with biblical truth as our standard - and to be morally consistent is to be politically
unpredictable.
Does Rod Parsley believe in capital punishment?
Pastor Parsley believes capital punishment is biblical and morally permissible,
especially in cases of murder where there is no doubt about the defendant's guilt.
The commandment "Thou shalt not kill," which is frequently misrepresented as a biblical
imperative against capital punishment, is more accurately rendered "Thou shalt not
murder." Murder is defined as the spilling of innocent blood, and government is
justified in avenging such heinous actions.
Rod Parsley believes capital punishment should be used only in rare instances, because
its use precludes any opportunity for the redemptive work of Christ to act in the
prisoner's life.
Which is more important for the Christian - evangelism or advocacy of moral
issues?
Rod Parsley believes both evangelism and social action are important activities
for the Christian.
There is no doubt that believers are called to make disciples (
Matthew
28:19-20), and that this is to our primary calling. But we are also called
to be "salt and light," that is, to influence others (
Matthew
5:13-16).
Advocating for moral issues is an effective way to influence others. It also attracts
people of other religions and of no particular religious faith - people who are
inclined to agree with CMC on moral issues - to the truth of Christianity, and that
is our ultimate goal.
What are some of the positions Pastor Parsley takes that are more commonly
associated with liberals?
Rod Parsley enjoys productive working relationships with members of the so-called
Religious Right. He is proud to work with them in defense of the sanctity of human
life and the defense of the biblical definition of marriage. However, his calling
to influence the culture goes far beyond marching in lockstep with anyone’s conservative
playbook.
He is also a humanitarian and a champion of social action. There are times when
the "liberal" position on a moral issue is the biblically correct one, and Rod doesn't
hesitate to take the side of the biblically correct, whether it comes from the political
right or the political left. Specifically:
- Pastor Parsley believes racism angers God, and has no place in a civilized society.
He asks whites to insist on equality for all races, and implores blacks to be done
with bitterness over past injustices.
- He is a zealous advocate for women's rights. Pastor Parsley believes it's a travesty
that women are paid significantly less than men for comparable jobs, and favors
giving women equal opportunity to pursue their individual callings in the areas
of employment, leadership and family.
- He supports prison re-entry programs as a helping hand to men and women who have
served their debt to society. They work against the rate of recidivism - the rate
at which ex-offenders commit new crimes and return to prison - and therefore help
keep our communities safer.
- Pastor Parsley also believes poverty is an unacceptable condition in the richest
nation in the world. He favors the elimination of wasteful programs that harm the
poor by creating a dependence on government to provide what people should - and
almost universally want to - provide for themselves. He has also worked to assure
that the payday lending industry charges reasonable interest rates.
