October 25, 2016 (LC) – Pastors and churches should ignore hollow threats to be silent regarding biblical and moral issues that are relevant to this election. Once again, like a broken record, Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State is sending out baseless, threatening letters to pastors. “Americans United has not won a single threat against a church regarding tax-exempt status. No church has ever lost its tax-exemption over political activity,” said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. “The best use of a letter from Barry Lynn is to line the bottom of a birdcage,” Staver said.
In the letter, Lynn states: “You should be aware that some national organizations have been urging religious leaders to engage in problematic activities. For example, you may be asked to distribute ‘voter guides’ during services or to make them available to your congregants. I urge you to be very wary of such overtures.”
“The truth is, no church has ever lost its tax-exempt status for either endorsing or opposing any political candidate or endorsing or opposing a local, state or federal law,” said Staver. “Pastors should not allow secularists like Lynn to intimidate them. Church leaders and pastors may speak on biblical and moral issues. They can educate about the candidates’ viewpoints. They can encourage people to vote and can even assist them in getting to the polls.”
Liberty Counsel has provided several hundred thousand DVDs of Silence is NOT an Option to pastors and church leaders in America. Compiled through decades of experience regarding churches and nonprofit organizations, these resources encourage pastors and church leaders to speak up on important biblical and moral issues. Liberty Counsel’s “Patriot’s Handbook of Political Action for Pastors and Churches” is also a thorough resource for pastors’ rights.
View Mat Staver’s video and learn more about the rights pastors have to speak on political issues and candidates.
Reprinted with permission from Liberty Counsel.