Clergy shouldn’t politicize the pulpit

By Connie Ryan Terrell

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Each election cycle, we see an uptick of clergy who politicize the pulpit and use their power to influence the outcome of elections.

In Burlington, the pastors of the apostolic City Church recently decided to engage in electioneering by giving worshippers campaign materials opposing a Supreme Court justice. This happened not just once but during two different Sunday services. Following the first week, a female member of the talked with a pastor about her concern regarding the violation of the law.

During the service the following week, the controversy heated up with a particularly vitriolic sermon by a second pastor, including threats aimed at the woman. Much public attention has been focused on the pastor's angry rants, including a statement that he would have “slapped” the woman - a traitor in his mind - if she were in front of him that day.

Christians should be appalled that their religion was misused in such an extreme, hostile and demeaning manner. However, I want to focus on the issue of electioneering from the pulpit.

There is a concerted effort by conservative churches to intentionally defy the IRS laws prohibiting tax-exempt, non-profit organizations from endorsing candidates for public office. To be clear, houses of worship have the choice of becoming a non-profit organization. If they opt-in, they receive the benefit of not paying certain taxes. Their members also benefit from their contributions being tax-deductible. The trade-off is that the congregation agrees to abide by certain restrictions, including not endorsing candidates for public office.

Congregations who choose to defy the law often do so under the guise of religious freedom and freedom of speech. It is an argument without merit. They have every right to exercise their First Amendment freedoms. They simply need to give up the tax-exempt status the congregation voluntarily chose if the exercising of that right includes the endorsement or opposition to candidates.

Ignoring the law is shortsighted and places a congregation in financial and legal danger. In addition, there is a real risk of creating a division within a congregation and harming the sense of community previously found.

Houses of worship and clergy can and should speak from their faith perspective about the challenges we face as a nation and state. However, clergy should respect their congregants to hear that message and make their own informed choice at the ballot box. Clergy should resist the political pressure and seductive power of politicizing the pulpit. Congregations should demand no less.

l Connie Ryan Terrell is Executive Director, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Comments: connie@interfaithallianceiowa.org