Comments on: The Race for Pastor-in-Chief

By: Autumnal Harvest

Autumnal Harvest — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:06:40 +0000

I guess the giant economic meltdown had at least one silver lining – these guys are getting very little press coverage.

I am quite impressed with your ability to find the silver lining! Now, if only a giant comet would hit the earth. . .

By: Erp

Erp — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:33:26 +0000

Actually it is perfectly legal for pastors as individuals to endorse candidates. What they can’t do is use their tax-exempt organization to publicize that endorsement or support the candidate in anyway or claim that it is the church that is endorsing. So not from the pulpit or in the church magazine but ok in a letter to the local newspaper (with the disclaimer if his position is mentioned that he is speaking as an individual not for the church).

By: martymankins

martymankins — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:41:00 +0000

Another echo for Josh’s comment. No endorsements. I’d like to see some of these churches get investigated for their mix of church and state. At least to let them know they can’t keep abusing the law in this respect.

By: Pseudonym

Pseudonym — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:59:59 +0000

What Josh said.

Clergy and churches do have an interest in specific policies, such as church/state issues, social justice issues and so on. They should be allowed to talk about those issues and encourage their congregations to think about them when voting.

Endorsing a specific candidate is crossing the line.

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:26:41 +0000

CNN actually covered this story today. It is in their video stories. I am sorry but I am not sure how to link it properly and computer whiz #1 isn’t back from the AAI convention yet and computer whiz #2 is sound asleep.

By: BZ

BZ — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:25:52 +0000

If they had willingly given up their tax-exempt status in exchange for the right to speak their mind, I would have a lot of respect for them. However, they’re just asking for exemptions from the laws that apply to everyone.

By: Aj

Aj — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:33:29 +0000

Churches should have to pay taxes, any charitable work should be operating under a secular, non-profit registered organisation.Religion might be a motivation for some people, but it has nothing to do with operating a public service. It’s up to the individual churches who they endorse if anyone. It seems natural that some religions would be involved in lobbying politicians, endorsing candidates, working for parties.

Of course this isn’t going to happen. The reason churches are involved in charity is to spread their influence and indoctrinate children. I don’t know any American churches so I have no idea what happens in general. On youtube I saw Obama’s church endorsing him, Palin’s endorsing her, and a preacher in church saying if you don’t vote for W. Bush again (4 years ago) the terrorists will get you all. I’d like to know how widespread this already is.

By: Laughing Boy

Laughing Boy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:25:55 +0000

I agree that inviting politicians to stand in the pulpit is an offense…to the Church.

Pulpits are for the proclamation of the Gospel, not politics. (Proclaiming the Gospel happens rarely enough!) At my current church no politician has ever been allowed to stand in for the pastor, nor has the pastor ever endorsed any candidate for any public office. The day either of those events happen I will go find another church that takes seriously it’s high calling. To be honest though, I have yet to be subjected to a politician in or a political endorsement from the pulpit in any service I have ever attended—and that’s well over a thousand. I know it happens, but only in a very small percentage of churches across America.

By: mikespeir

mikespeir — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:30:58 +0000

Maybe I’m overly cynical…

I call it being realistic, BK. My money’s on no action at all being taken.

By: SarahH

SarahH — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:30:55 +0000

What they want is attention. Of course they won’t face consequences – they were hoping the IRS would bite so they could get this issue into the news. I guess the giant economic meltdown had at least one silver lining – these guys are getting very little press coverage.