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Church and state

From the pulpit, conservative politics

By Peter Smith, The Courier-Journal, (Louisville, Kentucky), November 26, 2006

When a Louisville megachurch held a controversial national rally in support of conservative federal judicial nominations last year, political satirist Jon Stewart quipped:

"Megachurches -- I can't be the only one frightened when our houses of worship sound like they could take on Godzilla."

Stewart, host of "The Daily Show" on the Comedy Central network, was summing up fears that megachurches have emerged as a political force at a time when people's politics are increasingly defined by their religious commitment.

The more religious voters are, as measured by how often they attend church, the more they tend to vote Republican, according to surveys in recent elections.

The rise of the conservative Christian political movement in recent decades has come from many sources -- including publications, direct-mail appeals, Web sites, activist organizations such as the Christian Coalition and broadcasters such as Jerry Falwell. And megachurches have played a role, too.

While less visible in the most recent election cycle, some local megachurches have figured in recent political controversies.

Highview Baptist Church last year held "Justice Sunday -- Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith." It aimed to mobilize Christians on behalf of some of President Bush's judicial nominees, who were being blocked by Senate Democrats.

And in the run-up to a 2004 election in which Kentucky voters approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage, Southeast Christian Church produced billboards and ads proclaiming "God's plan for marriage" as "One Man One Woman."

"Of course it had an impact on the vote," said Aletha Fields, a lesbian minister who works in ministries involving gays, lesbians, transgender individuals and people with AIDS. "They've got more money to spend, for sure."

Southeast members have also been prominent in campaigns such as those to curb adult businesses and promote school prayer.

Churches cannot endorse candidates without losing tax-exempt status, but several allow voter guides to be distributed that tell candidates' stances on issues such as abortion and legalized gambling.

Dave Stone, senior minister at Southeast, said the church should "speak out on any issue that touches on something the Bible talks about."

"We won't try to make a mountain out of a molehill, we'll choose our battles carefully, but we wouldn't be doing our job as a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church if we didn't take a stand on those things," he said.

Lynn Rowland of Louisville -- who attends Southeast and enrolls his children at Highview Baptist's school -- said he admires both churches, and his only regret is when such churches get too involved in politics.

"Unintentionally it turns some people off to Christianity," he said.

Not all megachurches are as involved politically.

Pastor Bob Cherry of Northeast Christian Church said, "We don't see that as our role. We want to teach what the Bible says, but we're not going to" get involved politically.

Highview pastor Kevin Ezell said he has no regrets about holding Justice Sunday but said the coverage "just kind of exploded" in the days leading up to it.

"We were doing a church event, and it just so happened (to land) on the front page of The New York Times," he said.

Robert Parham of the Baptist Center for Ethics in Nashville, Tenn., said megachurches tend to lobby on a few issues, like gay marriage -- rather than on issues like poverty that might challenge the values of their own primarily suburban members.

"Megachurches tend to appeal to the lowest common denominator, affirming a conservative culture with a conservative theology and avoiding prophetic religion," he said.

He said he doesn't see much "advocacy for social justice issues, seeing the budget as a moral document, ensuring that public schools are fully funded and supported, working to see that the government advances human rights."

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