Churches and Political Action – Important “Do’s and Don’ts”

Churches and Political Action—What Pastors and Churches Should and Should Not Do

With election season being extremely important in American politics, what’s a pastor or church to do? Or not do? I offer these thoughts to assist you. I challenge all churches to do all they can that is legal and ethical.

Donald Shoemaker

From a LEGAL STANDPOINT, here are the “Do’s and Don’ts”:

Churches MAY NOT endorse or oppose a candidate.
Pastors MAY as individuals support or oppose candidates, but MAY NOT convey that they speak for their churches. And they should not proclaim their “personal decision” in any church medium (like the pulpit or newsletter or on-line). No preaching, “I’m not telling you who to vote for and I’m not speaking for the church, but here’s where I’m putting my support…”
Churches MAY NOT use their resources (like facilities, property or equipment) in contexts that endorse or oppose a candidate.
Churches MAY invite candidates to speak if done even-handedly and not selectively. Their presence in a service or in the pulpit MUST NOT convey the church’s support of any candidate.
Churches MAY distribute voter guides, but I don’t recommend it because almost all have a “slant” to promote. I also would not allow members or outside groups to bring literature to the church or blitz cars in the church’s parking lot with flyers. If outsiders show up or blitz the parking lot, it may be wise for the pastor to disavow the activity.
Churches MAY schedule a forum where the candidates for an office are invited to speak and answer questions. If only one shows up that’s not a legal problem, but it may not look the best and the church would need to be careful not to have the occasion appear to be an endorsement of the candidate who appeared.
Churches MAY spend money and lobby and encourage members in support of or in opposition to a ballot measure or a piece of legislation.The limitation is that the resources expended MUST NOT be “substantial”. This may be interpreted as “not more than 5% of resources”, which would almost never be exceeded in churches as reticent as many evangelical churches traditionally are. The limit applies not just to money spent but also to factors such as pastoral time.

I DO RECOMMEND these points of guidance:

Always maintain a distinction between the ultimate issues of the Kingdom of God and the penultimate possibilities of the political process. The latter are worthwhile but not perfect. They are secondary and not primary. They need the church’s voice and attention but must not get top billing.
Preach on morally laden issues and proposals like good or bad legislation or initiatives. But be sure that the biblical “connectedness” is made clear. Of course we preach sensitive to the congregation and visitors in such matters, but avoiding the topics should not be considered an option.
Have the church’s official body (Elders, board, or congregation) take positions on issues subject to the above qualifications and when the issue is important.
Do voter registration at the church before and after services. This is a non-partisan activity.
Have a forum to educate church members on ballot initiatives.
Encourage members to write elected and appointed officials to express their opinions and to ask for a vote for or against a measure.
Have your facility used for voting, subject to acceptable rules (for examples, I wouldn’t accept a demand to cover the cross but removing a literature table may be acceptable). This is a natural way of showing interest in the wellbeing of your community.
DO NOT politicize your message. By “politicize” I mean stridently or subtly speaking for or against a particular party or political stratum.
Remember, the spiritual upbuilding of the saints is always the goal in a worship service.This influences sermon style and content immensely.
Politically activist Christians must remember that the unity of the church must transcend all political and secular unities.
Remember the admonition (I’ve made it often and sometimes it’s been heard with much irritation, but at least the point wasn’t missed):

“The church is the one place where a very liberal Democrat and a very conservative Republican should be able to join hands and sing, ‘We Are One in the Bond of Love’.”