The ADF claimed:
“ADF is not trying to get politics into the pulpit. Churches can decide for themselves that they either do or don’t want their pastors to speak about electoral candidates. The point of the Pulpit Initiative is very simple: the IRS should not be the one making the decision by threatening to revoke a church’s tax-exempt status. We need to get the government out of the pulpit.”In 2008, 33 pastors took part in the first Pulpit Freedom Sunday, when they defiantly spoke of politics to their congregation. Though not an election year, many also participated in 2009. Each pastor, as instructed by the ADF, was to videotape their sermons and send them directly to the IRS.
According to Richard Hammar, certain types of involvement by the church in political campaigns, while an American tradition, seriously jeopardize a church's 501(c)(3) status. Click this link to view Hammar's article in the Spring 2010 Enrichment Journal.
What is your opinion? Should pastors participate in such an event? How far should a pastor go in speaking about "political issues?"
How do we define the difference between a "moral issue" and a "political issue?" Should a pastor publicly endorse a candidate?
What, in your opinion, is the benefit or down-side of a pastor participating in politics?
I believe that it is the role of the local pastor to look at the issues and then to compare those issues and how one should vote in light of what is written in the Bible. In essence, being a "value voter" instead of voting for a particular candidate because of their political party.
ReplyDeleteThe local pastor should play a role in the political environment from the aspect of educating the Body. There is a great opportunity to help morally influence the direction of politics.
In regards to the pastors that have participated in this event, I believe that they have set themselves out there as an "extreme" view and do not represent the Church. I feel that if they want to continue to do this, they need to remove themselves from the IRS coverings on their own and don't wait for the IRS to bring a lawsuit because of their rebellion to the law.