Time magazine yesterday says some secularists are trying to scare Christians away from the political process in Iowa.
In recent days, at least two evangelical pastors who are personally supporting Mike Huckabee received anonymous mailings warning that their churches risk sanction by the Internal Revenue Service if they become too involved in politics. The pastors said that the letters, one of which is notable for exaggerated punctuation and a spelling mistake, appeared aimed at preventing church leaders from encouraging congregants to turn out on caucus night.
The article provides a brief outline of what is permissible under the tax code governing tax exempt organizations:
Under federal rules, churches and other tax exempt organizations are barred from explicitly supporting or opposing a candidate. Church leaders, however, can still encourage congregants to participate in elections or caucuses, and they may discuss general political issues, like abortion and marriage, from the pulpit. Leaders can also endorse candidates in their capacity as private citizens.
By the way, these rules have absolutely nothing to do with the Constitution or in any way with the grossly misconstrued mythical "separation of church and state."
These rules go back to a law dreamed by by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson in 1954. A nonprofit group opposed Johnson, and in retaliation Johnson fought for and won approval of a law restricting nonprofit organizations from speaking for or against candidates. Before that--going all the way back to the Revolution--there were no restrictions whatsoever on clergy or churches making political endorsements. They could rightfully speak to the morality of issues and candidates.
At the invitation of the South Dakota Family Policy Council, Gary McCaleb, Senior Vice President of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), came to South Dakota in 2006 and spoke in several cities to pastors about exactly what they could and couldn't do with regard to their tax exempt status. I attended the Rapid City meeting and did a detailed writeup of what McCaleb said. Here is an excerpt:
Today in Rapid City, McCaleb told a filled room of 60 Black Hills area pastors and church leaders, “What they are saying is that you can lose your tax exemption as a church if you speak out on the abortion ban, or the gambling issue if it comes up, or in favor of marriage. I’ve come up from Arizona...to tell you very directly that this is absolutely inaccurate, wrong, false information. If you speak out even directly from your pulpit and tell your people to vote in favor of the marriage amendment, or vote in favor of the abortion ban, that is not going to put your tax exemption at risk.”
McCaleb also said churches may use an “insubstantial portion of your ministry resources to directly lobby on legislative matters like these [marriage and abortion] laws.” He said this is at least 5% of the total ministry value (not just the church budget, but the value of volunteer labor, and all the things that go into the ministry) on direct lobbying; this can involve buying yard signs, advertising, holding public rallies and such to encourage others to support legislation. McCaleb said some courts have said it is permissible to go up to 15-20%, but he advised 5% as a completely safe figure. Churches can also financially support the work of groups like the South Dakota Family Policy Council, VoteYesForLife.com and others, as long as reporting procedures are followed.
McCaleb said, “If anybody tells you differently, find out what they are quoting and give me a call. I guarantee you they are wrong. They are spreading misinformation. They are trying to silence the church.”
If a church is acting within what is allowed by law, but a complaint is filed against them for violating the tax code, McCaleb said the Alliance Defense Fund would help defend them at no cost. He said they exist to support Christians doing their work in defense of the Gospel.
You can read the entire article here.
Christians should not allow themselves to be intimidated out of the political process; not by secularists, not by misconceptions about the First Amendment or "church and state" issues, not by misunderstandings about tax law, and not by lies.
Christians have every right to be fully involved in the political process--indeed, they have a duty. If Christians are not fully engaged, they may rest assured that the enemies of Christian values will see their candidates elected and their values instituted into public policy.
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