There's the version of tax resolution the late-night commercials sell you. Then there's how it actually works. I'm Darrin Mish, a Tampa tax attorney. I've spent 32 years on the inside of these cases. Here's the real version.<\/p>\n
According to the law, churches and other places of worship are not obligated to pay any taxes. At the same time, the law also prohibits churches and other places of worship to publicly support or oppose any political party or persons running for public office. But not everyone agrees with the law. This Sunday, about 1,000 pastors are going to participate in \u2018Pulpit Sunday\u2019, a day when they openly speak about who they support or oppose politically and why.<\/p>\n
The Alliance Defending Freedom (AFD), a conservative Christian group, is organizing \u2018Pulpit Sunday\u2019, believing that the law prohibiting public endorsement or opposition of political parties or participation in political campaigns infringes on basic freedom of speech. So this Sunday, the ADF is encouraging pastors not only to preach on politics, but to record the sermons and mail them to the IRS. They are hoping the IRS will take some action against them, like revoke their tax-exempt status, so that they can bring the matter to court, because they believe a judge most likely agree that such an action is a clear violation of the First Amendment.<\/p>\n
But is the church right in defying the law and the IRS? Should churches be granted freedom to publicly preach on political parties or persons involved in public office? This question has no easy answer and will be debated for a long time to come. But the law is clear. Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code defines a nonprofit, religious group and its benefit \u2013 “A tax-exempt religious organization is a legal entity or vehicle created and operated exclusively for religious purposes, no part of the net earnings of which insures to the benefit of any private individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and which does not participate in or interfere in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.”<\/p>\n
So if the church wants to keep their tax exempt status, they should also abide by the law of nonpartisanship in politics. This Sunday at least, this law is set to be broken in 1,000 or so churches across the country. Sadly, most churchgoing Christians will swallow hook, line and sinker all they hear their pastors say about politics without doing any due diligence on their own. This should not be so.<\/p>\n
There are many other areas of social and spiritual life that churches can and should be involved in besides politics. The tax-exempt status is granted so that the church has the financial resources to carry out their social and spiritual responsibilities like feeding the hungry, caring for orphans or preaching the gospel. This should be the main focus of the church.<\/p>\n