Can a Church or Pastor Endorse a Political Candidate?
Can a pastor endorse a candidate from the pulpit? Can a church hang up Huckabee or Clinton signs all over the building (well maybe Hillary signs in a church is a little far stretched...but...it could happen) and urge you to vote for a certain candidate? Is it even legal?
You will never see us as a ministry endorse a particular candidate on this blog or at any of our worship services. However, if you were to personally ask me who I am going to vote for I would be glad to tell you who my favorite candidate is. But it is never OK for a church, ministry, or non-profit agency to endorse a candidate. In fact, it is against the law. That's right, it is unlawful for a non-profit organization to directly endorse or oppose a political candidate. That was new news to me as well but Out of Ur published a wonderful blog on this issue entitled: Politics from the Pulpit. I hope you will check it our and read the article.
Comments? Have you ever heard a pastor endorse a candidate from the pulpit? Or more likely, have you ever heard a pastor, church, or ministry oppose a political candidate?
6 comments:
I don't think I have personally heard a pastor endorse a candidate from the pulpit, but I have no doubt that it happens.
What about Christian organizations that aren't churches but have non-profit status? I don't want to name any organizations but I think that they can have a bigger influence due to the audience size. Many of them are built around certain key persons, so a personal endorsement by key persons can have a big influence on the audience that listens. But I guess thats the benefit of influence. I don't know, sticky situations.
Also, this is sort of a subject change, but how do we take it when this sort of thing happens from a different angle. What about when a political candidate steps into the pulpit? I am referring to Huckabee preaching at a church this past Sunday. I am not accusing him of making it a political rally or anything because it sounds like he tried to keep it from that but it still brings up the question. In my opinion when he decided to go into public service he can't continue to be a minister of the Gospel at the same time. They are not the same thing. There is a difference between being a minister of the Gospel and being a "Godly man" or a "man of Faith" in public service. He decided to go into public service, which is fine and good, but I just think he should stop confusing everybody about which it is.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/06/AR2008010602261_pf.html
From the Out of Ur article:
"8. Churches may host candidates who may speak from the pulpit, as long as that candidate is not directly endorsed or urges the congregation to vote for her/him."
I don't think what Huckabee did was wrong but I do see your concern. Being in public office is much different than being in the pulpit. I think that especially during a campaign there is some conflicting interest when a candidate speaks from the pulpit but that isn't to say that he shouldn't be allowed to do it.
It is not illegal per se. But any religious organization that endorses a political candidate will lose its I.R.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) tax exemption, and thus open up the organization to federal income taxation.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Oh I can definitely name a fairly large and well known church (known worldwide) that opposes a particular candidate from the pulpit during Sunday morning service and even on there radio station that is heard around the world
Ironic that political candidates can initiate legislation which can destroy a religion and/or its beliefs, but the clergy of that religion cannot legally defend themselves by asking its membership to vote against that politician. One more aspect of this particular government's Socialistic tendencies - remember, Marx said that religion is the opiate of the masses. Also remember, he meant ALL religions, not any particular one.
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