Pastor crosses line between church, state - Tax Exempt status threatened

[ChoralScholar]

I would love to see the SBC political machine get busted over this:

From the Fayetteville (Arkansas) Morning News

SPRINGDALE -- Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, is accused of crossing the line between church and state in a complaint to the IRS challenging the church's tax-exempt status as a religious organization.

The complaint about a July 4 sermon was sent to the Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday by the Washington-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, according to Barry Lynn, its executive director.

"No church in U.S. history has ever lost its tax-exempt status for being too political," Alan Damron, the Springdale church's associate pastor for community impact, said Wednesday. The church has provided transcripts of the sermon in the complaint to an attorney and been advised it "in no way" violates IRS rules, he said.
"The last thing we're going to do is tell people who to vote for," Damron said.

Floyd's sermon was in favor of President Bush's re-election, according to Lynn's letter, which says in part:
"The pastor's description of the candidates' stands and their personal religious beliefs was obviously aimed at encouraging congregants to cast ballots for Bush. The church is known for its stands on social issues and its opposition to legal abortion and gay rights. By lauding Bush's stands on these and other issues and attacking (Sen. John) Kerry's, Floyd was plainly telling his congregation to be sure to vote for Bush.

http://www.nwaonline.net/archive/2004/07/22/FayettevilleNews/261060.html

ON EDIT: Wrong Newspaper - fixed now

[sandnsea]

1. That was a campaign event

No question about it.

I'm 46, I don't remember anything like this ever happening and I've gone to every Christian denomination there is. Is this a southern thing, or a Christian Coalition thing?

[ChoralScholar]

2. The Southern Baptist Convention

has turned into more of a PAC than a denomination. Especially in this part of the country, they have no qualms whatsoever about being a talking head for the Republican Party.
I have a letter of membership in the SBC, but I am now rescinding it. This kind of thing turns my stomach.

[sandnsea]

3. Is that new?

I just don't ever remember any preacher, priest, or minister talking about politics at church.

I've only been to church once in the south. The preacher came down into the aisle and was walking up and down, waving the Bible and hollering. Way too much for this west coast girl, let me tell you!

[ChoralScholar]

4. Not new to me...

but then again, being 27, I grew up during the NeoConservative birth in the early 80's and have heard about 'God-anointed' presidents and such most all my life. It is pretty commonplace here, especially in über conservative denominations such as SBC, Assemblies of God, and United Pentecostal.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Not that new...

SBC and some Pentecostals have been putting out "voter guides" since at least the Reagan days. Leave 'em on the pews so everyone gets one.

There is a very thin line between voter guides that advocate positions or advocate candidates. If it becmes clear that a candidate is being favored, that is a no-no. Mentioning a candidates name is one way to make it clear that he is being favored, and most of them are smart enough to not make that mistake.

I've always been curious how these churches came to the conclusion that Jesus hates gun control and the UN, but loves the death penalty

Don't have the link handy, but last week I posted a piece from Barry Lynn's site about a church in Buffalo several years ago that lost it's 503(c) thanks to the preacher sermonizing about Bill Clinton being a servant of Satan.

Earlier today there was some discussion about Falwell's TV ministry losing its tax exemprion for three years in the 90's.

[ChoralScholar]

6. one last bumpity BUMP before I retire to my budoir... EOM

g'night all

[antigone382]

7. Yeah, preachers like that have ticked me off many times

I don't really know about all the legal/IRS issues involved, but I can't stand it when a preacher, whose job is to be teaching his congregation how to follow God more closely, starts peppering his sermons with political declarations. He's literally saying that to be a good, "true" Christian one *must* vote a certain way.


I'm not saying that political discussion shouldn't be a part of religious life, but it should be just that: discussion. When one side smugly states that its views are the only relevant and correct ones, in the name of God and in a format that does not allow for dissent (such as preaching from a pulpit), it is reprehensible and cowardly.

It's just one more reason I'm not a Christian anymore.