About The Center

The Center for Public Justice is an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to policy research and civic education. Working outside the familiar categories of right and left, conservative and liberal, we seek to help citizens and public officeholders respond to God's call to do justice.

Our mission is to equip citizens, develop leaders, and shape policy in pursuit of our purpose to serve God, advance justice, and transform public life. To learn more about our unique perspective, see What Distinguishes the Center for Public Justice? The Center bases its research, publications, training, and advocacy work on a comprehensive, Christian political foundation. It was established in 1977 by a group of citizens interested in developing and communicating an integrated biblical view of political service and responsible government. Then, as now, the Center recognized the need to build and uphold a just republic and to promote just relations among the nations.

THE NEED, OUR RESPONSE

Americans hold a range of clashing perspectives on public life. Christians often stand at odds with one another: Some drive for political dominance, some pursue special interests, others retreat for purity’s sake.

Further, individualism and morally divided leadership fragment our country. Citizens mistrust government and are disengaged from the political process. Interest-group politics rules the day. Bipartisan agreement is all too rare. And the poor and weak suffer most from the consequences of injustice. The need for a thoughtful, far-reaching response is clear.

At the Center for Public Justice, we:

Are committed to public service that responds to God's call to do justice in local, national, and international affairs.
Believe Christians should contribute to the renewal of political life.
Encourage officeholders and citizens to take their responsibilities seriously.
Pursue a multi-issue, public-interest approach to lawmaking and governance.
Envision a republic where government is competent, leaders are trustworthy, and civil society is thriving.

OUR APPROACH

The Center argues for the high calling of government, whose responsibility is to uphold justice for all citizens in the political community (in our case, the republic of the United States). Government's calling is to protect and enhance the common good—the wellbeing of the commonwealth—and not just to protect individual freedom or to make room for private purposes.

We advocate equal treatment of people of all faiths, because the political community should be a community of citizens, not a community of faith. We also contend for government's recognition and protection of strong civil-society organizations and the independence of families, churches, schools, enterprises, and other non-governmental institutions. And we advocate strong public protections of the civil rights of all citizens.

JOIN US!

We welcome the financial support of individuals, churches, foundations, and corporations that share the Center's vision and want to advance its mission.

MORE INFORMATION

Read more about the basic principles of the Center (articles originally published in the Public Justice Report):

The Biblical Call to Social Responsibility (March-April 1994)
The Question of Authority (May-June 1994)
What Constitutes a Political Community? (September-October 1994)
Government with Representation (January-February 1995)
Political Fairness and Equity (July-August 1995)
Government and the Responsible Society (May-June 1996)
Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Conscience (November-December 1996)

202-695-2667
email: inquiries@cpjustice.org

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 48368
Washington, DC 20002-0368