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Christianity Today, September (Web-only), 2008 |

Endorsing from the Pulpit

Pastors launch challenge of IRS rules on endorsements.

Adelle M. Banks | posted 9/25/2008 10:09AM

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A recent poll by the First Amendment Center found that 40 percent of respondents said religious leaders should be permitted to endorse candidates from the pulpit without endangering their tax status, compared to 54 percent who disagreed.

In addition, LifeWay Research released a poll Wednesday finding that 13 percent of respondents agreed that it is appropriate for pastors to publicly endorse candidates for public office during a church service; 54 percent approve of a pastor's personal endorsement of candidates outside of their church.

Booth, who became a McCain supporter after former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race, has a sort of "been there, done that" view of the initiative, since he already told his congregants last May not to vote for Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton. Americans United has sought an IRS inquiry into that sermon but, on the advice of his ADF lawyers, Booth would not comment on whether he had heard from the tax agency.

Related Elsewhere:

Other articles about the Pulpit Initiative include:

Politics From Pulpit Will Deliver Challenge to IRS | Conservative group seeks court fight on nonprofit law (The Wall Street Journal)

Pastors Plan to Defy IRS Ban on Political Speech | Ministers will intentionally violate ban on campaigning by nonprofits in hopes of generating a test case. (Los Angeles Times)

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. (The Washington Post)

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Richard

Posted: September 30, 2008 6:26 PM

This is nothing more than a power grad. Pure and simple. How is God's name (pun intended) can a pastor know the heart and soul of a person enough to endorse them from the pulpit. They can't. These pastors have decided that the Republican party is their party to power and want to turn our Democracy into a Theocracy. I can read about the candidates and I am 100% able to pray on my own for guidance. That's the great thing about a personal relationship with God. I don't need a pastor for salvation or voting advice. The problem we have is that too many Pastors have a God complex. They believe that only they can tell you what God wants you to do. Remember, false prophets come in many shapes and sizes. Matthew 24:5 "because many will come in my name and say, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people." Mark 13:22 "because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect."

Bob Druumond

Posted: September 28, 2008 2:55 PM

From where I sit in a major industrial area with many churches of colour I have find it ironic that the IRS rules only seem to apply to one race. Those white folk out there. Meanwhile our African-American churches regualrly supply pulpit time and effort to the cantidate(s) that they support as if the IRS "rules" didn't exist. I think we should let "all" churches that choose to do the same regardless of colour. Be it for President or Mayor or any other office.

aveteran

Posted: September 28, 2008 8:49 AM


Gus, who gave you any right to dictate what anyone does in the bedroom, much less who to vote for? Telling the congregation who to vote for doesn't further the mission of the church to spread Christianity, it turns the church into a prostitute for the Republican party. If you want to play politics, drop your tax exemption PRIVILEGE and pay to play like everyone else.

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