Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Without Risking Church Tax-Exempt Status
View related threads:
(in this forum
| in all forums)
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Without R... - 10/14/2008 12:30:37 AM
|
|
|
SILVERNAME
Posts: 122
Joined: 2/23/2008
Status: offline
|
"Pastors should throw away the muzzle of fear and replace it with a megaphone of boldness"
Commentary
WASHINGTON, September 31, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pastors and church leaders do not need to violate IRS regulations on political activity in order to impact the 2008 elections. There are a wide variety of permissible activities that will activate voters and encourage them to vote according to biblical values.
While churches may not endorse or oppose candidates for elective office, pastors can preach on biblical and moral issues, such as abortion and traditional marriage, can urge the congregation to register and vote, and can overview the positions of the candidates. Churches may distribute nonpartisan voter guides, register voters, provide transportation to the polls, hold candidate forums, and introduce visiting candidates.
Since 1954, when the political endorsement/opposition prohibition was added to the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"), only one church has ever lost its IRS letter ruling, but even that church did not lose its tax-exempt status. Churches, unlike other nonprofit organizations, do not need an IRS letter ruling to be tax-exempt. That case involved the Church at Pierce Creek in New York, which placed full-page ads in USA Today and the Washington Times opposing then-Governor Bill Clinton for President. The ads were sponsored by the church and donations were solicited. The IRS revoked the church's letter ruling, but not its tax-exempt status.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08100102.html
.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 1:39:19 AM
|
|
|
ofa23
Posts: 714
Joined: 4/19/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: SILVERNAME
"Pastors should throw away the muzzle of fear and replace it with a megaphone of boldness"
.
Our pastor has no fear at all about speaking out on moral/political issues. He is encouraging our congregation to vote for prop.8 (traditional marriage) this coming November. He stays within the tax-exempt law because he never endorses any particular candidate that is running.
_____________________________
In essentials; Unity (The Nicene Creed)
In Non-Essentials; Liberty (Everything Else)
In all things; Charity
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 7:33:20 AM
|
|
|
mapachito13
Posts: 2543
Joined: 10/1/2007
Status: offline
|
My dream is that those pastors preach to the politicians and hold them accountable for their views. They need to ask them what their pro-life action plan is and what is their strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade. How they are going to introduce legislation to put into law that life begins at conception!!! It's easy and hypocritical to grasp a Bible and say I'm pro-life and then do virtually nothing to stop it.
Otherwise these "pro-life" politicians are content not to upset the apple cart and do the minimum. In 35 years they have made no measureable difference in this fight for life. That is why, as a political tool, this issue holds no sway over my vote now.
_____________________________
Peace Sells....But Who's Buying!
"I would argue that the most serious threat to the United States is not someone hiding in a cave in Pakistan or Afghanistan, but our own fiscal irresponsibility."-David Walker, fmr comptroller general of the US
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 9:45:25 AM
|
|
|
P31W
Posts: 2942
Joined: 6/13/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
Otherwise these "pro-life" politicians are content not to upset the apple cart and do the minimum. In 35 years they have made no measureable difference in this fight for life. That is why, as a political tool, this issue holds no sway over my vote now
Our state legislators have done a wonderful job in helping to prevent abortion on demand. Our state has enacted parential concent (both parents signature required), 24 hour waiting period after consultation (meaning you and a friend must wait 24 hours with the added cost before the abortion can be preformed --for most that hotel stay, time off work, money for food and transportation) and such strict medical oversight that only one clinic preforms abortions in our entire state.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 10:07:02 AM
|
|
|
rcjames
Posts: 5771
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
|
There is no restrictions on speaking out on issues, just endorsing a particular candidate.
If a Chruch feels that they have to speak out for or against a particular candidate then all they have to do is forgo the 501(c)3 tax designation.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 11:43:05 AM
|
|
|
cow451
Posts: 3970
Joined: 5/6/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: SILVERNAME
"Pastors should throw away the muzzle of fear and replace it with a megaphone of boldness"
Commentary
WASHINGTON, September 31, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pastors and church leaders do not need to violate IRS regulations on political activity in order to impact the 2008 elections. There are a wide variety of permissible activities that will activate voters and encourage them to vote according to biblical values.
While churches may not endorse or oppose candidates for elective office, pastors can preach on biblical and moral issues, such as abortion and traditional marriage, can urge the congregation to register and vote, and can overview the positions of the candidates. Churches may distribute nonpartisan voter guides, register voters, provide transportation to the polls, hold candidate forums, and introduce visiting candidates.
Since 1954, when the political endorsement/opposition prohibition was added to the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"), only one church has ever lost its IRS letter ruling, but even that church did not lose its tax-exempt status. Churches, unlike other nonprofit organizations, do not need an IRS letter ruling to be tax-exempt. That case involved the Church at Pierce Creek in New York, which placed full-page ads in USA Today and the Washington Times opposing then-Governor Bill Clinton for President. The ads were sponsored by the church and donations were solicited. The IRS revoked the church's letter ruling, but not its tax-exempt status.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/oct/08100102.html
.
This is only news to the uninformed. Any pastor not aware of this information is not fit for the pulpit, IMHO.
_____________________________
Nobody ever heard of Acid Rain before we sent people into space.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 11:50:36 AM
|
|
|
colliefan
Posts: 2996
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Raleigh, NC
Status: offline
|
They need to be speaking on the issues and not just at election time but an ongoing basis as to how their congregations can be salt and light in dark and decaying times.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 1:56:36 PM
|
|
|
cog41
Posts: 626
Joined: 7/16/2006
From: The Great State of Texas
Status: offline
|
With a biblical point of view of course.
I'm afraid many of them are afraid to address sin much less real political issues. As with the pols in office many of them fear loss of position and or popularity.
_____________________________
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."
Hook'em Horns! Roll Tide!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 1:58:52 PM
|
|
|
cog41
Posts: 626
Joined: 7/16/2006
From: The Great State of Texas
Status: offline
|
I certainly don't include my pastor in the "afraid" category but I do know some locally who are.
The church must get bold with the gospel and the truth message.
_____________________________
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."
Hook'em Horns! Roll Tide!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/14/2008 2:14:05 PM
|
|
|
kernsfamily
Posts: 1434
Joined: 4/26/2006
From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
Status: online
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: cog41
I certainly don't include my pastor in the "afraid" category but I do know some locally who are.
The church must get bold with the gospel and the truth message.
My pastor is certainly not "afraid" to address sin, or preach the gospel, either.
THOUGH, right before the Iowa primaries, Mike Huckabee did come to our church....and spoke from the pulpit on Sunday morning in church (he gave the sermon)....
As much as I like Mike, I still thought it was totally inappropriate to have a candidate for public office in the pulpit on Sunday morning in church (regardless of his "previous career", or whatever).....even though nothing "political" was said (other than acknowledging that he was a "Christian", and a candidate running for Prez)...........the "message" was still there, and VERY clear.....: Vote for THIS GUY because he is "one of us".....
and, yeah....he did "preach" a really good message....great speaker.....
but, do you think he'll bother coming back anytime soon....as just "mike huckabee, the pastor" and not "mike huckabee, I want/need your vote"???? I am not holding my breath.
my sunday morning church service was really a "campaign stop"....
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Erin, Emilie and Elise
Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/15/2008 3:17:02 AM
|
|
|
47.samuel
Posts: 50
Joined: 9/24/2008
Status: offline
|
When the Christian Church accepts tax-exempt status is sends the wrong message to the world message - that religion has become state subsidized.
Can you imagine Christ accepting tax-exemept status from the Romans?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/15/2008 5:23:10 PM
|
|
|
Jhud
Posts: 7627
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Lake Wobegon
Status: offline
|
quote:
This is only news to the uninformed. Any pastor not aware of this information is not fit for the pulpit, IMHO.
I have to say the majority of Americans aren't aware of the specific lines that our government presumes are supposed to separate church and state, including many judges and politicians.
_____________________________
Jack
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
- C.S. Lewis
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Pastors Can Speak Out On U.S. Election Issues Witho... - 10/15/2008 11:20:42 PM
|
|
|
mapachito13
Posts: 2543
Joined: 10/1/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: 47.samuel
When the Christian Church accepts tax-exempt status is sends the wrong message to the world message - that religion has become state subsidized.
Can you imagine Christ accepting tax-exemept status from the Romans?
That would be true if we had one denomination that would be the Church of America with the President as it's head. But Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians et al all enjoy this status. If churches were taxed then the collection plate would be passed more often or maybe you would be paying a mandatory tithe.
_____________________________
Peace Sells....But Who's Buying!
"I would argue that the most serious threat to the United States is not someone hiding in a cave in Pakistan or Afghanistan, but our own fiscal irresponsibility."-David Walker, fmr comptroller general of the US
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
