Rod Parsley
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Rodney Lee Parsley (born January 13, 1957) is an American televangelist, and the senior pastor of World Harvest Church, a pentecostal megachurch in Columbus, Ohio and the founder and president of The Center for Moral Clarity. He is also founder of Breakthrough Media Ministries, Bridge of Hope Missions, World Harvest Bible College and Harvest Preparatory School. His "Breakthrough" telecast can be frequently seen on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and other stations and cable networks around the world. Parsley, a social conservative,[1] is a frequent critic of liberal positions on social issues and has appeared at public events with Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, U.S. Senator Zell Miller, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and others. He has also been a guest on CNN's "Larry King Live."
He is married to Joni Parsley. They have one son (Austin) and one daughter (Ashton), both teenagers.
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[edit] World Harvest Church
In 1977, Parsley's 17-person bible study formed what became known as Sunset Chapel, and later Word of Life Church in Canal Winchester, Ohio. His church has grown into the current World Harvest Church which now encompasses 400,000 square feet (37,000 m²) and has a 400-person staff.
The church's first facility was built in 1979. That building is now known as Alpha Hall and is one of four buildings on what is now the campus of World Harvest Bible College. In 1986, ground was broken on 57 acres to build what now includes a 5,200-seat sanctuary, Children’s and Youth Ministries, Family Life, Ministry Resource Centers, a Bookstore and Administrative Offices. The church's main property now comprises 132 acres.
Harvest Preparatory School, a private Christian prep school, operates on the church grounds. In the fall of 2005, Pastor Parsley launched Harvest Prep Virtual Academy, a college-preparatory online school available for 3rd-12th grade students nationwide.[1]
[edit] Breakthrough Ministries
Breakthrough is the television broadcast produced by the World Harvest Church. The show features sermons and bible studies by Parsley as well as segments concerning the Center for Moral Clarity.
Breakthroughis carried on 1,400 stations and cable affiliates, including Daystar Television Network, INSP, Cornerstone Television, World Harvest Television, The Church Channel, Trinity Broadcasting Network, ENLACE (which broadcasts in Spanish to 20 nations), Vision TV (Canada), and Europe 7.
[edit] Political activism
During the Summer of 2004, Parsley openly criticized Sweden for the arrest and subsequent conviction of Ake Green under Sweden's hate crimes legislation. During the same time, he founded The Center for Moral Clarity to address moral issues and influence politics from a Christian point of view.
On October 3, 2004, Parsley preached a sermon titled "Uncensored: While Freedom Still Rings," which was in many ways the mission statement for the Center for Moral Clarity. In the two-part sermon, Parsley expressed opposition to the following: separation of church and state, same-sex marriage, partial-birth abortion, hate-crimes legislation in California, Canada, and Sweden, sexual orientation themes in children's books, racism and poverty.
A few weeks before the 2004 election, Parsley encouraged his congregation and those who watch his television program to vote for Ohio's state constitutional amendment to limit marriage to one man and one woman (which ultimately passed by a wide margin). He also encouraged citizens of other states with similar marriage amendments on their ballots to vote similarly. He was headlined the "Silent No More" tour to register Christian voters.
Parsley and the World Harvest Church supported John Roberts' nomination for the Supreme Court of the United States.
[edit] Writings
Parsley is an author of several Christianity-themed books, including Silent No More, which was released in April 2005 by Charisma House. The book encourages Christians to participate in the political process, and especially to make sure their votes reflect their values. Concerning poverty, Parsley writes that government should "get out of the way", removing many constraints on capitalism. Parsley criticizes Islam, stating that he "do[es] not believe that our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed.” (Silent No More, as cited in Holy Toledo by Frances Fitzgerald in the New Yorker, July 31 2006)
The sequel to "Silent No More," "Culturally Incorrect: The Real War of the Worlds," will be published in June 2007.
[edit] Criticism of Parsley
Parsley encourages a variation on the Biblical concept called tithing. Though tithing is taught by many pastors, the view held by Parsley is that if one tithes, in exchange God will provide virtually unlimited blessings, a variation of the controversial Word of Faith theology commonly embraced among Pentecostal and Charismatics.[2]
Parsley is identified as a prominent player in the dominionist movement by both TheocracyWatch [3] and commentator Bill Moyers [4]
Some have also criticised Parsley for his recent book, Silent No More because of the book's attacks against Islam and separation of church and state (among other popular social issues), and for his support of faith healing. Parsley has identified Islam as an enemy of the United States and Christianity, and went so far as to label such a cult during one TBN sermon.
[edit] References
- ^ Frances Fitzgerald. "Holy Toledo: Ohio’s gubernatorial race tests the power of the Christian right", The New Yorker, July 31, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
- ^ Sarah Posner. "With God On His Side", The American Prospect, November 11, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
- ^ "The Rise of the Religious Right in the Republican Party: Ohio's Patriot Pastors", TheocracyWatch, Last updated: September 2005; URL accessed May 24, 2006.
- ^ 9/11 And The Sport of God Bill Moyers September, 2005. TheocracyWatch, URL accessed May 24, 2006.
