Last Sunday after worship I held an informational meeting about what churches can and cannot do in an election cycle.  For those who were unable to attend, these guidelines—which come from the United Church of Christ—are helpful to keep in mind.

All churches have a 501(c)(3) status within the Internal Revenue Code which broadly states that such tax-exempt organizations may not “participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.”  

In other words, churches cannot endorse or oppose a candidate.  In addition, clergy can only be politically active by making it evident that they are doing so on their own and not on behalf of the church.  In all honesty, many clergy consider political activity in their professional role a bit of a gray zone.

• Churches, however, can do many things during an election cycle such as: 
• Discuss issues and candidate positions.
• Welcome political candidates to church functions and worship services.
• Distribute non-partisan voting guides.
• Distribute candidate voting records.
• Rent church space at market value to a candidate if offered at the same rate to all candidates.
• Sponsor candidate forums and debates.
• Re-publish news stories.
• Hold non-partisan voter education.
• Hold non-partisan voter registration.
• Hold non-partisan get-out-the-vote drives.

There is much more flexibility for churches when it comes to ballot measures.  In this case, churches can:

• Publicly endorse or oppose ballot measures.
• Propose ballot measures.
• Organize volunteers to gather petition signatures.
• Host ballot measure campaign events in church facilities.
• Send church staff to campaign for or against ballot measures.
• Contribute money to ballot measure campaigns.

I hope our church will be politically active within these boundaries and I hope all of us activate our faith in ways that move our politics forward toward greater inclusivity, support for the marginalized, and equality for all.

See you in church,

–Rev. Dominic