Sep 10 2008
Ban on Political Endorsements by Pastors Targeted
Declaring that clergy have a constitutional right to endorse political candidates from their pulpits, the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund is recruiting several dozen pastors to do just that on Sept. 28, in defiance of Internal Revenue Service rules.
“For so long, there has been this cloud of intimidation over the church,” ADF attorney Erik Stanley said. “It is the job of the pastors of America to debate the proper role of church in society. It’s not for the government to mandate the role of church in society.”
Yet an opposing collection of Christian and Jewish clergy will petition the IRS today to stop the protest before it starts, calling the ADF’s “Pulpit Initiative” an assault on the rule of law and the separation of church and state.
Read more here.
[From me]
Sure pastors have rights to endorse people just like any other person. BUT, I believe it should not be from the church. The church is a place of worship and pastors need to minister to everyone regardless of party.
What do you think?
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9 responses so far
While I advocate that pastors should not be politically biased in their teaching, I also maintain that the IRS has no right to revoke or grant tax exemption based on political speech. If a church is a church in definition, the IRS has absolutely NO right to dictate what can or cannot be said from the pulpit, whether it’s political propaganda, racist hate speech, anti-gay preaching, or whatever. I think none of those things BELONG in church, but I am firmly convinced that the IRS is required by the constitution to allow churches to teach WHATEVER they believe.
If I were to form the First Republican Church of New York, as long as my “church” meets the definition of “church”, then, by all means, that church is tax exempt.
I know, it’s tricky, because my stance protects the prosperity guys a little more than we non-prosperous types would like…
Seriously, do ya think it’s right for the TAX COLLECTORS to tell PASTORS what to say or not to say???
Sign me up! I want to tangle with the IRS!
I had one run in with them…they actually made a mistake on part of my submission…but, it took me two years to prove it to them…and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of my dollars!
Politics has no place in the pulpit…leave the endorsements to someone else…pastors have enough to do preaching the Word of God, Christ crucified, and the hope of salvation.
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..Striving for Mobility
I am not one who believes that politics should be discussed from the pulpit. The people come to hear a word from God not a word from Bill’s ever-flowing opinion bank. While I may hold certain beliefs in regards to issues it is not my place to endorse or warn about candidates. I would refuse to take part in this ADF fiasco.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..To Start Your Day
I think that by allowing the IRS to dictate what things are said form the pulpit then it makes the church vulnerable to allowing the government to dictate other areas in which to regulate what is said from the pulpit. For example, what is stopping the IRS from saying that we can not saying divorce, homosexuality or adultery are all wrong and sinful?
That being said I do not think pulpits should be used to endorse particular candidates. I think it is well and good for pastors to help lead their congregations to participate in the political process and along with that to present biblical truth in regards to various issues such as abortion, stem cell research, etc.. From this guidance and presentation of truth the people in the church should be guided to make their own choice. They should chose whatever candidate they best feel lines up with those beliefs they find most important.
The PULPIT should NEVER be used to endorse any political candidate…regardless of their position.
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..What CNN had to say about Governor Palin’s Religion….
I think they should be able to say whatever they want without IRS intervention. However, I think they should stay away from politics.
Michael’s last blog post..God is Love!
This isn’t hard. If these preacher guys want to start endorsing candidates, then start paying taxes.
But then, my preacher will do a great job for the next 8 Sundays telling me that if I really love Jesus then I should vote for McCain without ever saying his name.
I generally think these type preacher guys would be happier running a PAC than pastoring.
Blogs/websites cloud the issue even further. What about the content of pastors’ blogs? Can the IRS revoke their church/ministry’s tax exempt status based on political content?
I try to limit my political posts, but I do feel the need to address certain issues (abortion, etc).
I have never endorsed a specific candidate from the pulpit and do not intend to do so. Yet, I wonder what the IRS would have done in Colonial America when the political fires spread to the pulpit and further fueled the American Revolution?
bloginafogpastor’s last blog post..Blessings and Unity