Are clergy allowed to endorse candidates when not at the pulpit?

[Eric J in MN]

Dems Voted Out of Church Weigh Options By PAUL NOWELL, Associated Press Writer
Sat May 7, 7:51 PM ET

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - A pastor who led a charge to kick out nine church members who refused to support President Bush was the talk of the town Saturday in this mountain hamlet, with ousted congregants considering hiring a lawyer.

..."This is very disturbing," said Pastor Robert Prince III, who leads the congregation at the nearby First Baptist Church. "I've been a pastor for more than 25 years, and I have never seen church members voted out for something like this."

...Prince said he noticed during the presidential campaign that more pastors made endorsements — although not from the pulpit — than in past years.

"It used to be that pastors would speak about the issues and not specific candidates," he said. "I think that line is being crossed."

Is the law different for when a preacher is standing at the pulipit from when he's standing elsewhere?

[funflower]

1. Yes. Just like public school teachers are allowed

to endorse religion outside of the classroom.

[ultraist]

2. That's correct

The IRS rules were posted on another thread and it gave a few examples. Church leaders are able to attend political functions, put ads in the paper or even in their church newsletter endorsing candidates, as long as they pay for the ads from personal funds and not church funds.

[karlrschneider]

3. The appropriate laws have to do with their tax-exempt status as a CHURCH

what he does on his/her own time WRT political activities is nobody's business. When they move it into the pulpit and inject it into religious services is when they lose that exempt status. It's pretty simple. But enforcement is likely to be iffy in these days of government/talibornagain alliances. :grr:

[quaoar]

4. 501c3 non-profits

are not allowed to lobby. Why should a minister be allowed to get involved in politics while acting as the leader of the church?

[RevCheesehead]

5. Yes, we are.

And I still have my Kerry and Feingold stickers in my car window.

It's a bit tricky at times. I could not put a yard sign in my parsonage yard, because it's church property. But I could do the bumperstickers, even though I park in the "Reserved for Pastor" spot at church on Sunday morning.

I was very careful in handing out signs, buttons, and campaign info. I told people, "I'm not acting as your pastor - right now, I am your friend." I never brought stuff into the church on Sunday morning, and would distribute to whomever wanted stuff from the trunk of my car. Again, "a gift from your friend."

I also took two church members with me to Kerry/Edwards appearances. They really are my friends, and I told them to lay off the "pastor" stuff while we were out. That was pretty easy, as we were drooling over John Edwards at the time. :)

[Eric J in MN]

6. What about talking about Kerry at the church? nt

nt

[RevCheesehead]

7. the unofficial rule I followed was

"never, with a captive audience." That meant, no political discussions in worship, at meetings, classes, or places where my authority as Pastor and Leader would be implied.

However, that didn't dissuade me from preaching about ISSUES, and how they relate to the Gospel of Jesus. ;)

Any talk of the candidates was strictly on an unofficial basis, in casual conversation only. I'm still entitled to have opinions - but I just can't use the church to promote them (re: Kerry).

Incidentally, since the election, I have preached on SpongeBob, the Religious Right, "Justice" Sunday, and other events in which leaders have taken very public stands, with religious implications. I am comfortable in saying, "this may be what they believe, but it is contrary to what the Gospel says."