As part of a consent judgement filed in a US District Court in Texas on Monday, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has agreed to release churches from a decades-long prohibition against engagement in “political speech,” referred to as the “Johnson Amendment.”
The judgement, which was accepted by the court, states, “For many houses of worship, the exercise of their religious beliefs includes teaching or instructing their congregations regarding all aspects of life, including guidance concerning the impact of faith on the choices inherent in electoral politics.”
For over 70 years, pastors and churches across America were led to believe that speaking about elections, political issues, or candidates from the pulpit or in their ministries could cost their church its tax-exempt status.
That myth – rooted in the 1954 Johnson Amendment – silenced too many faithful leaders. It created fear. It stifled truth. And it separated the Church from its God-given responsibility to speak clearly in a confused world.
But this week, the truth finally broke through.
Many churches believed the myth of “separation of church and state” meant silence in the pulpit. But that was never true.
In the filing, the IRS officially acknowledged what we’ve known all along: Churches can speak into political issues and endorse candidates to their own congregations.
That’s right. According to the IRS itself, houses of worship are free to speak to their people about elections and candidates – boldly, biblically, and without fear.
Granted, there has and always will be a broad spectrum in terms of how each church chooses to engage in the cultural and political issues of the day but now … there is at least clarity on what can be done.
The judgement also notes that, “When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith in connection with religious services, concerning electoral politics viewed through the lens of religious faith, it neither “participate[s]” nor “intervene[s]” in a “political campaign,” within the ordinary meaning of those words. … Bona fide communications internal to a house of worship, between the house of worship and its congregation, in connection with religious services, do neither of those things, any more than does a family discussion concerning candidates. Thus, communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted.”
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It is widely understood that through this action, the IRS is conceding that it will no longer seek to enforce Johnson Amendment restrictions on churches, including involvement in political campaigns, endorsement of political candidates, and other engagement in political speech, as long as those communications are “from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith.”
The irony? This has long been the IRS’s unspoken policy – but the deception was allowed to stand. Many churches believed the myth of “separation of church and state” meant silence in the pulpit. But that was never true. And now the law agrees. We’ve long said the Church is not the problem – it’s the solution. And now, more than ever, the Church must lead with clarity, courage, and truth.
No more fear. No more confusion.
For those pastors and churches wanting to engage biblically in being salt and light in the public policy arena, Alaska Family Council stands ready to help them speak clearly and courageously. Because in a culture that is confused, clarity is compassion – and silence really shouldn’t be an option.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
14 Comments
Come on “churches” let us hear the opinions and views! Freedom is not free! Our US Constitution is broad and worthy of every type of conversation it protects. Churches, bring it on!!
hi
This is a terrible idea. Eliminate any church’s tax free status if they want to influence parishioners to vote as a block. This will be rescinded. Has to be.
It’s been allowed for a long time, end of story.
Yes most Christian’s and pastors vote as a block, against these evil times we are living in.
Evil indeed. But trump won’t live forever.
I’m not sure at all why this is a mystery. Traditional AME churches have done it forever. Obama spoke at several and was supported heavily by them. I’m likewise mystified why non-profits can say whatever they like and not pay taxes while Churches supposedly could not. One does not retire their 1st Amendment rights by attending or working for a Church. I’m quite sure that supporting a candidate that supports the morals and ethics espoused by a Church is protected speech under the 1st Amendment, and particularly by the Establishment Clause. Government cannot mess with Churches, but there is no such prohibition against Churches working in the public sphere.
That’s why you’re not governor and not getting my vote.
Have a nice day.
“I do not think that word means what you think it
means…”
using my name again! get a life fraud!
Joel please look into this.
Davesmaxwell
TS
REVOLUTION, REFORMATION, REVIVAL
pray……………PREPARE………….PROCEED
Vote Dave Maxwell for governor
thanks Joel
First of all, separation of church and state is a hallmark of the Communist Manifesto and not the United States Constitution. The communists want to give the government authority over churches; the constitutionalists want to protect churches from the government. The “Johnson Amendment” was unconstitutional in that, to receive a tax break, churches had to sell out their first amendment rights. I am glad this has been corrected. People can still vote for the person they believe will be best for the country, or state, or city. Most will vote the way the organization affirms; simply because the members are basically in one accord. This applies to a church or other association.
Sandra, can you give me a link to the communist manifesto that rules our country?
I find it very interesting that over the course of many decades the IRS never threatened independent black churches who commonly allowed political candidates to stump from their pulpits and who always predictably and very publically endorsed the liberal slate of Democratic candidates. Of course if you were a main line Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant church you would have been threatened with losing your tax exempt status for endorsing a political candidate being there was the real danger candidates other than liberal Democratic candidates might be endorsed. This double standard has existed for 60 years. Don’t you think just one main line church would have challenged that double standard? Or were their bishops too concerned about raising the specter of reverse discrimination or suggesting “independent” black churches were nothing more than shills for the Democratic Party? We did not need to wait for this recent decision, any bold pastor or bishop merely needed to stand up and say we demand the exact same rights, the very same freedoms enjoyed by black churches – enough of the double standard! Yet oddly that never happened. Why? Perhaps they feared the wrath of the Democratic machine that dominated congress and national politics for nearly 50 consecutive years – from the 1930’s to the 1980’s. Yes, fear and intimidation was used to muzzle mainline Christian churches who did not 100% support Democratic causes and candidates as the black churches did. The message from the Democratic Party to America’s Christian churches – GET IN LINE AND SHUT UP OR WE’LL DESTROY YOU!