As I travel Georgia speaking to various groups, a major question continues to be asked. The answer to the question always brings responses from people who, for many years, have been confused concerning the freedom of speech rights we have. One of the most cherished of our freedoms is freedom of speech. We should do everything possible to assure that we never loose the right to freedom of speech. Yes, that means all citizens have freedom of speech. Being a member of a church or a certain group of people does not limit your freedom of speech. There is, however, a certain category within the tax code approved by the IRS known as 501c3 which causes a great deal of confusion on the part of charities, non profit organizations, and churches. The 501c3 designation from the IRS means that the receipts of those organizations are not subject to taxes. The employees of those organizations, however, are subject to paying taxes. I still have people asking questions related to the salary paid to staff members in churches with the impression that they do not pay taxes. This rumor is not true. Pastors of churches are required to file and pay taxes just like everybody else who receives a salary. Taxes may be paid on a quarterly basis like other self-employed people, but nonetheless they are required to pay taxes.
The issue continuing to arise across the area where I speak is what limit is placed on churches regarding involvement in the political process. There are many members of churches, even pastors, who believe a church cannot legally get involved in politics for fear they will loose their 501c3 tax designation. It is true that a church cannot endorse specific candidates for any office. Even with that one prohibition, there is much more a church can do to effect change in the political process. Any church can speak on public policy issues any time.
“Eric Stanley, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, says that pastors and congregations have nothing to fear.” In a Baptist Press story last Friday, Stanley further stated, “Under the IRS law, churches cannot endorse candidates but they can lobby for specific legislation.” Public policy issues can and must be addressed by churches. Again, Stanley reminds that a church cannot endorse candidates, and they must keep the money spent on lobbying efforts to less than 5% of their total overall budget. (There has never been any danger that a church would come close to that 5% ceiling in lobbying on public policy issues.)
The Baptist Press story provided a list of items legally allowed by the IRS for Pastors and churches to be involved in the public policy arena. That list included: “Gathering signatures for petitions, even within the church building itself, urging members to support or oppose an initiative, handing out literature for or against an initiative, holding meetings geared specifically toward the initiative, and preaching sermons on the issue, urging members to vote a certain way.”
Many groups are willing to have their voices heard on a wide range of public policy issues in the political world, as they should. Often, the church has remained silent when it needs to voice a strong opinion on the policy issues affecting all the citizens. There are some groups who delight in intimidating those with opposing viewpoints to be silent on issues. Let it never be said that any voice was silent when it comes to public policy and how a change in that policy will impact all the citizens. We do not give up our citizenship when we become a member of a certain organization including our membership in a church.
With all the issues that are before legislative bodies locally, in our state, and on the federal level, we need to be more informed than ever and speak up on the issues that will impact our way-of-life and freedoms. It is a historical fact that without church leaders speaking up we would not have had our first ten amendments to our constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. It is church leaders who led the fight for equal rights, and exposed racism in our nation. It is church leaders who advocate for life issues as well as equal justice for all people. The time is now for the silent and timid people to stand up and speak in order to be heard on the issues impacting all citizens.
Ray Newman
Column first appeared in The Barrow County News, Winder, GA.
The issue continuing to arise across the area where I speak is what limit is placed on churches regarding involvement in the political process. There are many members of churches, even pastors, who believe a church cannot legally get involved in politics for fear they will loose their 501c3 tax designation. It is true that a church cannot endorse specific candidates for any office. Even with that one prohibition, there is much more a church can do to effect change in the political process. Any church can speak on public policy issues any time.
“Eric Stanley, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, says that pastors and congregations have nothing to fear.” In a Baptist Press story last Friday, Stanley further stated, “Under the IRS law, churches cannot endorse candidates but they can lobby for specific legislation.” Public policy issues can and must be addressed by churches. Again, Stanley reminds that a church cannot endorse candidates, and they must keep the money spent on lobbying efforts to less than 5% of their total overall budget. (There has never been any danger that a church would come close to that 5% ceiling in lobbying on public policy issues.)
The Baptist Press story provided a list of items legally allowed by the IRS for Pastors and churches to be involved in the public policy arena. That list included: “Gathering signatures for petitions, even within the church building itself, urging members to support or oppose an initiative, handing out literature for or against an initiative, holding meetings geared specifically toward the initiative, and preaching sermons on the issue, urging members to vote a certain way.”
Many groups are willing to have their voices heard on a wide range of public policy issues in the political world, as they should. Often, the church has remained silent when it needs to voice a strong opinion on the policy issues affecting all the citizens. There are some groups who delight in intimidating those with opposing viewpoints to be silent on issues. Let it never be said that any voice was silent when it comes to public policy and how a change in that policy will impact all the citizens. We do not give up our citizenship when we become a member of a certain organization including our membership in a church.
With all the issues that are before legislative bodies locally, in our state, and on the federal level, we need to be more informed than ever and speak up on the issues that will impact our way-of-life and freedoms. It is a historical fact that without church leaders speaking up we would not have had our first ten amendments to our constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. It is church leaders who led the fight for equal rights, and exposed racism in our nation. It is church leaders who advocate for life issues as well as equal justice for all people. The time is now for the silent and timid people to stand up and speak in order to be heard on the issues impacting all citizens.
Ray Newman
Column first appeared in The Barrow County News, Winder, GA.
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