You may have wealth. It cannot profit long. You may have health. Decay will cause its flower to fade. You may have strength. It soon will totter to the grave. You may have honors. A breath will blast them. You may have flattering friends. They are but as a summer brook. These boasted joys often now cover an aching heart, but they never gave a grain of solid peace; they never healed a wounded conscience; they never won approving looks from God; they never crushed the sting of sin.
Henry Law

What Ministers CanCannot Do po

What Ministers CanCannot Do po What Ministers CAN and CANNOT do Politically

Here is a summary of an article that appeared in the newsletter of the Network of Christian Ministries dated November/December 1987.

  1. Federal law requires that a 501 (c)(3) religious organization not directly or indirectly participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to any candidate for public office (including the publishing or distribution of statements).
  2. A minister may allow his name to be used in political ads in support of candidates or issues. He may be identified in the ads as the minister of a particular church.
  3. A minister may help establish a political action committee (PAC). The committee must operate and be viewed as separate from the church.
  4. A minister may lobby and circulate petitions. He may lobby as an individual; he may circulate petitions on his own time.
  5. A minister may preach on Christian activism to encourage members of his congregation to become involved in the political process. He may pray for elected officials and lead prayers for the election of candidates (generic) who support a particular philosophy or cause. The prayer must not be an endorsement of a candidate.
  6. A church may engage in and spend money for nonpartisan voter registration and voter education.
  7. Nonpartisan debates are the only way a 501 (c)(3) organization may host campaign-related appearances before the general public by a candidate.
  8. A minister may introduce candidates at services. A candidate may deliver a sermon, lead in prayer, read Scripture or give a word of personal testimony.
  9. A church can spend a small percentage (probably no more than 5%) of its time and money circulating petitions (for lobbying purposes) and engaging in lobbying and other legislative activities.
  10. A church may not endorse candidates. (But any individual may do so, including the minister.)
  11. A church may not contribute to political parties or candidates.

These guidelines were compiled by the law offices of Marion Edwyn Harrison, Washington, D.C., and are not presented as legal advice.