| Political and Legislative Guidelines For Churches and Pastors |
| by Mathew D. Staver, Esq. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
What churches/pastors can and cannot do regarding: |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Supporting or Opposing Legislation |
Church |
Pastor |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
Use of church facilities by lobbying groups to discuss social issues |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Rent or loan church mailing list to lobbying groups |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Preach sermons on social issues and political issues and activism |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Educate on political process and political/social/legislative issues |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Petition drives supporting or opposing legislation |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Support or oppose legislation unrelated to the church organization |
Yes**
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Support or oppose legislation that directly relates to the organization |
Yes***
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Encourage members to voice their opinions in favor or in opposition to certain legislation |
Yes**
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Lobby candidates to support or oppose legislation |
Yes**
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Distribute position papers supporting or opposing legislation |
Yes**
|
Yes
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Supporting or Opposing Candidates |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Endorsing or opposing political candidates |
No
|
Yes*
|
| |
|
Contributions to political candidates |
No
|
Yes
|
| |
|
In-kind and independent expenditures for or against political candidates |
No
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Contributions to political action committees |
No
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Appearance of political candidate at church meeting or service |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Introduction of political candidates at church |
Yes
|
|
| |
|
Political candidate to preach or read Scripture (contributions should not be solicited and sermon should be nonpartisan) |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Voter registration (nonpartisan) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Distribution of candidate surveys and incumbent voting records (avoid editorial opinions) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Distribution in church parking lot of political statements and opinions on political issues, so long as NO church endorsement |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Rent or loan church mailing lists to political candidates (list MUST be made available to all candidates on similar terms and prices) |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Church bulletin political ads at regular price and news stories |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Church bulletin editorial where the pastor or staff member endorses or opposes a candidate |
No
|
No
|
| |
|
Church bulletin editorial regarding political issues or two different church members take opposing views on a candidate |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Use of church facilities by political candidates (as long as ALL other candidates are allowed or invited) |
Yes
|
N/A
|
| |
|
Fundraising for candidates |
No
|
Yes*
|
| |
|
Campaigning for candidates |
No
|
Yes*
|
| |
|
Educate members of the public about viewpoints of candidates |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Discuss church doctrine pertaining to candidate views such as abortion |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Granting use of name to support a political candidate |
No
|
Yes*
|
| |
|
Support or oppose judicial, department or cabinet appointments |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Support or oppose judicial candidates |
No
|
Yes
|
| |
|
Support or oppose other political appointments of non-elected officials |
Yes
|
Yes
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Mat Staver founded and serves as president of Liberty Counsel based in Orlando, Florida. http://www.lc.org |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
* As private citizens
** Churches and other 501(c)(3) organizations may support or oppose legislation so long as such activity comprises an
insubstantial portion of the overall operations (usually around 5%).
*** A church or any other 501(c)(3) organization may WITHOUT limitation support or oppose legislation that directly affects
the organizational structure and operation, i.e., a church may without limitation oppose legislation attempting to repeal the
tax-exempt status of the church |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
