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That activity would not cause a church to lose its 501(c)3 status and there are 501(c)3s that organize those. It is not a violation to speak out on issues - it is to endorse candidates in an election.
Perhaps, but threats have been made against such churches and from some ministers their sermons were demanded for preview under Obama...in a southern church I believe. On more than one occasion... outrageous!!
Having been the elder chairman of a 1500 person evangelical church in the Carolinas that dug pretty deeply into the whole tax exempt issue, I never heard of any sermons being demanded for preview. I do know that in Houston, after they passed a non-discrimination ordinance, the local government demanded some sermons for review after they were delivered. I do believe the Houston mayor was trying to bully the pastors and was wanting to use the sermons to take language (either in or out of context) to try to shame and influence. Though the question can be raised if any church should be concerned about their sermon text being sent to anyone given the commission of the church, I do agree that the mayors request was wrong and political on her part and that is outrageous.
No, I do see definite attempts to silence the voice of churches in many areas. Religious freedom is an issue I care deeply about. I just prefer to spend my energy on real instances and not on windmills. Removal of tax exempt status by the IRS barely registers on the pareto chart for religious freedom persecution.
My comments you may have noticed were no longer addressing tax exempt status, but rather expanding on my earlier comment to the OP...religious persecution. And in addition I'd say there is an intimidation factor extending from all these areas which is difficult to measure. Churches are shoring up their by-laws proactively in hopes of protecting their doctrine. These attacks are from various groups and courts, driven by government policies, uphold these attacks at times.
Yes, I was tying your comments back to tax exempt status, so thank you for the clarification. From a high level, I think we do have a lot of agreement on this topic. When I was in leadership, we certainly had taken steps to examine and update bylaws and policies as you mentioned.
I cannot prove this and I know of no concrete plan to do so, but I believe when it happens it will happen at a court level that will affect all churches, synagogues, temples, etc. that have tax exempt status. IOWs, in one fell swoop, all religious tax exempt status will be removed from all religious organization. I suspect it may happen at a federal district court level and then the action will be upheld at the SCOTUS.
Yes. I think we are in agreement and I much respect your leadership and knowledge in these matters.
I certainly have read opinion pieces in some blogs and non-mainstream sources calling for this, but like you I have not seen a serious effort. Generally comes from 2 camps, either atheist or those who deconstructed and no longer support churches as they exist today. I don’t believe this would happen with this Supreme Court, but IMHO your scenario is more likely than tax exempt status slowly being eroded away. Again, JMHO.
Thank you. The wonderful thing is while serving as God called me to, I both saw the human failings of believers and also ended my time with a stronger faith in God and stronger belief in the guiding of the Holy Spirit. I was blessed by that time.
