I love my church. I've never been so excited about my walk with God, the Bible, and worship. A friend just brought this to my attention, and I wondered what you all think about it.......a few days before the '92 election, my church took out a full-page add with the USA Today and the Washington Times, and stated that Bill Clinton stood for many things that Christians did not, etc, etc,. The IRS investigated (Please read the article), and revoked their tax-free status. I'm not sure how I feel about it all, as I just found out. I think I'm really proud of Pastor Dan. What he did took guts. http://www.aclj.org/news/NR_000512.asp (hope that works!)

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), October 29, 2001

Answers

Unfortunately, ministers aren't always up on the legal stuff concerning their rights and where they stop. When you go 501(3)C, you are now in the governments arena and they can control you. PERIOD.

He broke the law, even if it was unknowingly. If the pastor had taken out the ad personally, it wouldn't have been a problem, but because he involved the church, he broke the law.

I am glad he had the gutts to publish the ad and I agree with him; however, all things work together for good for them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose! Maybe now, he can really do the Lord's work since he isn't hindered by the government, etc., etc.

-- Stephanie Nosacek (possumliving@go.com), October 29, 2001.

P.S. On the topic of Christian Prejudice. I believe that we must call a spade a spade. If the church doesn't stand up for what is right then they have agreed; however silently, with what is wrong.

-- Stephanie Nosacek (possumliving@go.com), October 29, 2001.

Cathy:

Just a simple question. How come others are allowed to say, at the pulpit, amd in front of tv cameras, things that are similar to what your pastor said and printed and not be shut down by the IRS???

The people that I am referring to are the likes of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Louis Farrakhan, all ordained ministers. We have all seem Jackson telling folks how great Clinton was, go out and vote for the man etc. Jackson met with and counseled Clinton after the Lewinsky affair. Jackson has used non-profit money to pay off his mistress. Why is he not investigated? Are people scared of him or something? He seems to be able to do whatever he wants with impunity.

I have personally heard Farrakkhan call for a revolution in this country. It was at the Million Man March . The man is obviously a few bricks short of a load with his everything equals 19, but why can he say what he wants and others can't? His group is tax exempt also.

Seems like if you agree with certain politicians, or mindsets, you will not be persecuted by the IRS etc. Where is the freedom of speech in this case? (I know there are some restrictions on 501-c-3, but this is ridiculous,)

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.

Well I am proud of Pastor Dan!!!! Cool! No church should take a 501c3 as it makes them nearly hog tied to the laws of man and then destroys the reason for a church and it's functions. There are a lot of good churches that have them, but if they get this new legislation through it could seriously help the churches in this country to stick to what misistrations God calls them to. I posted an article regarding this legislation over at the Christian forum. Check it out if you like.

Sounds like you have a good place to learn there, Cathy. I don't care what it takes, the truth is the truth and should not be squelched. Of course I realize a lot of people love(d) Bill Clinton and that's their perogative, and actually the 'administration" did a lot to shake folks awake, so there are good things that were brought about by all of it.

Bob, it all comes down to agendas. :]-

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), October 29, 2001.

Hurray for Pastor Dan!! If only more pastors were like him and John Hagee and D.J. Kennedy and David Reagan we might not be in the mess we are in now.

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

The reason Jessie Jackson can get away with it is because his Christian colliliton in not a 501c group or he has a non 501c group that does the political work.

These kind of canidate support issues need to be done more but have to be done the correct way. Had Pastor Dan used his own money for the ads, that would have been fine, but when you use a non-profit money for it then you run afowl the law. There is nothing against the church forming a polital arm to handle these issues in the future.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), October 30, 2001.

Don't think Jackson belongs to the Christian Coalition. It is the Rainbow Coalition and I can't seem to find out if it is tax exempt or not.

Can anybody help here?

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

Guess I found the answer for my own question.

The Rainbow/Push Coalition apparently is NOT tax exempt. That is why Jackson etc. can say what they want compared to a minister from a 501- c-3 church. However I am not in favor of these Rainbow Coalition ministers going to tax-exempt churchs and preaching their views about who to vote for etc. It is no different than you minister. Those churches should also lose tax exmpt atatus, unless we have a double standard here

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), October 30, 2001.

I just want to remind some of you to hint to others in Government, that because of God fearing forefathers, this country became and based on Biblical Principles, there in a Government to persecute todays churches.

-- art (acj9501@aol.com), April 25, 2003.

While I wholly support the free speech rights of your pastor, and every other pastor, Pastor Dan Little waived his constitutional rights when he applied for 501c3 status for Branch Ministries, Inc., dba The Church at Pierce Creek.

His case against the IRS was doomed from the start. However, it certainly proved to be a great fundraiser for the ACLJ! Jay Sekulow raised millions of dollars from gullible Christians who didn't understand the legal issues.

No church needs to be 501c3, nor should it be. Even the IRS has long stated in their publications that "churches are automatically tax exempt and automatically tax deductible without ever applying for 501c3 status." In other words, why would you be so stupid to ask the IRS for something you already have?

My understanding is the Pastor Dan Little now understands the issue. He dissolved the incorporated church and he now pastors a free-church. He can now say whatever the Lord leads him to say without fear of government retaliation.

There's some great information available on this topic at http://hushmoney.org

-- kirk guardian (kirkguardian@yahoo.com), April 18, 2004.