The Rev. D. James Kennedy of the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and Coral Ridge Ministries, wants to open an office in the nation's capital. They include the Christian Coalition, Tradition Values Coalition, Concerned Women for America, and the Family Research Council. The term originated with the Coalition's executive director, Ralph Reed, at a time when he frequently employed military terminology to describe the mission of the Christian Coalition. The first seminar was held at the Airport Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. Participants learn about education reform, parent's rights, sex education, outcome-based education, school choice, curricula, what issues to run on, and how to deal with teacher's unions.
Emphasis is placed on the actual campaign for a school board seat.
The course covers how to run a winning campaign, fundraising, coalition building and organizing, identifying voters, communications, and media relations. It is a widely recognized fact that the local school board is a good place to launch a political career. Robert Simonds of Citizens for Excellence in Education estimates that more than 12,000 conservative Christians have been elected to school board seats since 1989. Over the next few years, many of these people will be working their way up within the political system. The CNP is the nation's foremost group of ultra-conservative leaders.