What churches can and cannot do in politics

There is a lot of confusion (especially on the part of pastors)about what type of political activities churches can engage in given their non-profit tax status. 

Some believe that all political activity is out of bounds and would put that status at risk.  Wrong.  Unfortunately, this results in a lack of political information on the part of many church members.  And a lack of information leads to a lack of effectiveness.

Church based groups do have some limitations when it comes to
political advocacy however.  In order to be more effective, (and avoid
any problems), it is important to know what type of activities can and
cannot be conducted in or by a church.

Here’s a handy list:

A Church Can:

• Conduct non-partisan voter registration drives
• Conduct non-partisan voter identification drives to identify conservative voters
• Conduct “get-out-the-vote” drives, encouraging conservatives to vote
• Distribute non-partisan voter education information
• Allow political candidates to address the congregation
• Host candidate forums where all candidates are invited and allowed to speak
• Educate church members on legislative matters
• Lobby elected officials on behalf of specific legislation
• Make expenditures on behalf of state referendums
• Rent church member contact lists to favored candidates at fair market value
• Pastors may endorse candidates as individuals, but not on behalf of a church

A Church Cannot:

• Directly endorse candidates in the name of the church
• ontribute money to a campaign, or make “in kind” contributions, (such as resources or services), to a candidate or party
• Contribute to political action committees (PACs)
• Distribute materials that endorse a particular candidate or political party
• Pay for partisan political events with church funds
• Allow candidates to solicit funds from the congregation (from the pulpit)
• Create a church political committee that would do any of the above

The bottom line is to avoid any partisan preferences in any activity done on behalf of the church itself.

However, what people do on their own time is their own business. 
Once they’ve become registered to vote, or received information that
educates them on how various candidates stand on important faith and
family related issues, it probably won’t take them long to figure out
who to support.

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Related entries:

• Organizing churches with church contacts
• Why conservatives should organize in churches
• Five grassroots tools you can use for local precinct organization

(You can find tips like this and much more in my “Grassroots 101: Grassroots Training Series”.)