News : New tax policy may bring political campaigns to the pulpit, critics say

By Tom Foley

Iowa faith leaders expressed mixed reactions to an Internal Revenue Service court filing allowing houses of worship to endorse political candidates while maintaining nonprofit status. Critics say the move could open the door to more campaign spending and political division.

"If you have the ability to influence the election, then people who have money who also want to influence elections are going to find a way to get you involved," said Brendan Glavin, director of insights for OpenSecrets, a research group tracking money in U.S. politics.

The IRS's court filing came as part of a joint motion for a consent judgment in a lawsuit filed against the federal tax agency by National Religious Broadcasters. The lawsuit contested that a provision in tax law that required certain organizations, including churches to refrain from participating or intervening in political campaigns to maintain their nonprofit, tax-exempt status.

The motion sets out a new interpretation of the law, stating that when houses of worship speak "in good faith" to their congregation "through its customary channels" on matters of faith "concerning electoral politics" they do not jeopardize their nonprofit status by "participating or intervening" in a political campaign.

"Nobody at the IRS is interested in jeopardizing their career over questioning a non-profit's political status," Glavin said. "The same would apply to a church."

He adds there have been "multiple instances" where faith communities have tried to "test the law" and generate court cases but before now, but "the IRS didn't take the bait."

Unlike other nonprofits, houses of worship including churches are not typically required to file 990 forms which disclose financial information about the organization and they automatically qualify for tax-exempt status, whereas other nonprofits must apply.

Glavin said a potential scenario that could arise is a candidate could donate money to a church "with the understanding" the church would publicly endorse or support them, but adds, "it could already be happening."

Pastor Josh Bingaman, lead pastor of First Church in Des Moines and dean of Open Bible College, hosted and prayed for President Donald Trump at a pastor's meeting hosted at First Church. He said he also sent an invitation to the previous administration and would have been "honored" to pray for former President Joe Biden as well.

"The First Amendment gives a special exception for the practice of religion and also free speech. And so, it's never really been tested in court, it's very rarely been enforced by the IRS and I believe there was a great fear that it wouldn't stand up in court," Bingaman said.

Bingaman's church is part of a smaller denomination called "open bible churches" which headquarters in Des Moines. He said he believes the IRS' move is "just in line with what's right" but adds that he "has no desire to endorse." Rather, he said the change will "remove the chilling effect" and give pastors the ability "to address issues in our nation" more candidly.

Glavin said the IRS' decision to put "a little bit of language" to their stance on endorsing candidates from the pulpit could create "a situation where somebody can go out and push the envelope." He says it may lead to further court cases that "create a position where the door gets open even wider."

Rabbi Michael Gilboa of Tifereth Israel Synagogue said that "even though there's a permission now" he has no plans "to act on it."

"We are very proud that our members participate in the political process," Gilboa said. "But it's not our place to promote that from the pulpit."

Gilboa's synagogue is home to "members of both parties and everywhere in between." He said "the Jewish people have really benefited greatly from the American values of freedom and democracy" but added that "people don't bring their politics to the synagogue that much."

After speaking with some of his colleagues, Gilboa said the IRS decision "is not a good move." He said it will "promote further partisan divide" and members may start sorting themselves under religious leaders who favor their partisan stance.

However, Pastor Charles Hundley of First Church of God in Des Moines said he thinks this decision "is a good thing."

"I look at it from a biblical worldview and I ought to be able to express that," he said. "Am I going to stand up in front of the pulpit and probably try to bully everybody into doing that? No, that's not my style."

Hundley said pastors have been "selecting a candidate" and explaining their choice before the court filing, just "not necessarily from the pulpit." He said "righteousness and justice is what the government should be doing" and wants candidates that feel similarly.

Gilboa argued that the move was divisive.

"Any time you are dividing a community it's a problem. We work very hard to make sure that this is a community that is open to all points of view," Gilboa said. "It doesn't mean we agree with every point of view, but saying there's a political litmus test for coming into a synagogue is a recipe for disaster."

For some Iowans, faith and politics are intertwined.

"I think the fact that churches can endorse candidates from the pulpit is returning to the original idea of the church leading culture," said Lucas Laughton. "I'm not going to be the only person who's ever said this but if the church and godly people are not leading the culture then the world is happy to do it."

Laughton, a Clive resident since 2014 and a member of In His Light Ministries, said he believes "the spirit" behind the Declaration of Independence came "from the pulpit." He said there is no one "better suited" than faith leaders to "look for biblical character" in political candidates.

Denise Hiscocks, the former treasurer of Harvest Bible Chapel in Clear Lake, said "that sharing a candidate's story" is different from telling voters what to think, as long as "whoever is speaking from that pulpit is speaking truth about that candidate."

"I think the pulpit serves as a good platform for people to know the truth. And knowing the truth means knowing what God says about individuals," she said.