I came across a circumstance today where someone distributed fliers for an upcoming politically-related event. As I understand it, the distribution of these fliers was not sanctioned or authorized by church leadership.
Regardless of whether church leaders were knowledgeable or not, I personally think church is not the place to promote or endorse political activities, regardless of party affiliation, platform or agenda - not any Sunday, but especially not Easter Sunday.
Anyone agree, disagree or otherwise have a thought?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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4 comments:
i agree. talking about politics seems to separate people most of the time. and the church is not somewhere that people need to be separated... right? =)
Taking a political stance one way or another can cause a church to lose its tax-exempt status.
I was surprised to learn during my trip to Jackson, Miss., this week, that until the 1960s, Mississippi law prohibited African Americans from "gathering" for any purpose other than church services or funerals. As a result, many plans for the civil rights movement in that state were formulated in church and at fake funerals. And although Renee is technically correct, I now have a clearer understanding why that line may be hard to draw, particularaly for older African Americans.
Thanks for the history lesson, Rebecca, I had not idea that that was the Mississippi Law during the Civil Rights era. That helped with my understanding of the connection between African American churches and their related political activities.
I know of a situation with a church who wanted to show some videos supporting a conservative presidential candidates election. They were advised not to do so because of the danger of losing the tax-exempt status as a result of "political activity" and therefore decided to show the video in someone's home.
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