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May 26, 2004
Church Politics Under Scrutiny
by Julia Scott
Return to: "Activist Churches Question Speech Limits"
Churches do come under IRS scrutiny for political activity.
In Los Angeles last September, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church hosted Bill Clinton in a rousing defense of then-California Governor Gray Davis, who was facing the recall campaign that would ultimately evict him from office.
"Don't shred your Constitution," the former president pleaded to a congregation that, according to the Los Angeles Times, responded with cries of "Amen!"
The event, which made national news, launched the California Democrats' campaign against the recall.
Later, church officials discovered that First AME was under scrutiny by both Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a religious liberty watchdog group, and the IRS, for violating section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code prohibiting tax-exempt organizations from intervening in political campaigns.
A violation might cause the church to lose its tax-exempt status -- but because neither Clinton nor Davis were technically candidates, no actions were taken.
Rev. Leonard Jackson, the church's associate pastor, said the experience "reminds all churches that there's someone out there watching you, and that we do have laws to keep us honest."
Jackson maintained that ministers as individuals have the right to support candidates, but that "[b]ecause the church is a 501(c)(3) and you don't pay taxes to start off with, it is only right you do not use the church as a rally point for politicians."
In April, the Washington, D.C.-based AUSCS made a complaint to the IRS about the Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston, whose pastor allegedly endorsed John Kerry for president during a service that the senator had attended.
AUSCS spokesman Jeremy Leaming said the IRS had received the complaint, but would not comment about it unless an investigation were to take place.
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