Take Me To Post Comment Form Ministerial M-UU-SINGS
Rev. Jane Page
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro

Can congregations invite candidates for office to speak in our services?
Can we provide voter guides to our members and friends?
Can the minister endorse a candidate for office or put a political bumper sticker on her car?
Can congregations lobby political bodies concerning matters of concern to us?
Can we provide links on our websites to information about candidates or announce political meetings on our listservs?

These and other questions often arise, especially during an election year. And, indeed, one must be cautious. Most congregations, like other charitable organizations, have tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501 c (3). Some believe that disallows any “political involvement. However, religious groups and individuals have historically played a “prophetic role by calling attention to concerns in our society and have encouraged change by holding our political leaders and institutions accountable for their policies and actions. There are many activities that we can participate in as a 501 c (3) organizations without jeopardizing our non-profit status. However, there are rules that must be followed and sometimes these can be confusing. For example, this past year, the United Church of Christ invited one of their members, Senator Barack Obama, to speak to them at their annual meeting about his spiritual journey. The IRS took them to task over this because Senator Obama was a candidate for president. Similarly, ministers have received a great deal of attention in recent months from words uttered from their pulpits in support of or in opposition to candidates. What are the rules? And how do we avoid breaking them while lifting up our values during an election year?

To assist ministers and congregations, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Washington Office for Advocacy has published a resource entitled, “The Real Rules. The following information is quoted from this resource and provides some clarification.

"The Three Point System:

The IRS regulations on the activities of congregations can be summarized as follows:
1. Issue Advocacy: Without limits on time, effort, and expense, congregations and their representatives may engage in issue advocacy through activities such as educating and mobilizing congregants and the general public. For example, by encouraging the public to show concern for global warming by reducing carbon emissions.
2. Lobbying: Within narrow limits on time, effort and expense, congregations and their representatives may engage in lobbying – defined by the IRS as advocating for or against specific pieces of legislation – as an “unsubstantial portion of an organization’s activities. Courts and the IRS have ruled in the past that lobbying activities constituting 5% or less of total activities is acceptable.
3. Political Campaign Intervention: There is a total limit on partisan activity. Congregations and their representatives can do nothing that advocates for or against candidates for public office or political parties. This includes fundraising on behalf of candidates and donating meeting space, among other things. Election-related activities such as candidate questionnaires and forums are acceptable so long as all major candidates are invited to participate and they cover a broad range of issues.

Please Note: The restrictions on lobbying and political campaign intervention described here apply only to a congregation as a legal entity, or to a person or group speaking in the name of a congregation. A minister or congregation member may freely engage in these activities as an individual.

Example (from an IRS publication): Minister C in the minister of Church L, a section 501 c (3) organization and Minister C is well known in the community. Three weeks before the election, he attends a press conference at Candidate V’s campaign headquarters and states that Candidate V should be reelected. Minister C does not say he is speaking on behalf of Church L. His endorsement is reported on the front page of the local newspaper and he is identifies in the article as the minister of Church L. Because Minister C did not make the endorsement at an official church function, in a official church publication or otherwise use the church’s assets, and did not state that he was speaking as a representative of Church L, his actions do not constitute campaign intervention by Church L."

The Real Rules publication is 19 pages long and includes many other guidelines and examples. Although it’s all "down in black and white" there is much that appears "gray" to me. For example, the guideline related to speakers would seem to favor the United Church of Christ’s invitation to Senator Obama. It indicates that you can invite a candidate to speak if the reason for speaking is not related to her/his candidacy. However it also states that the organization must maintain “a nonpartisan atmosphere on the premises or at the event where the candidate is present." Perhaps the IRS felt that the "atmosphere" was partisan, indeed.

My view is to err on the side of caution related to politics when I speak from the pulpit or at an official church function. At the same time, I will continue to provide a prophetic voice and speak out from the pulpit and elsewhere on issues like our costly occupation of Iraq. And while I may not endorse a candidate from the pulpit, we all can promote the candidates of our choice in other forums. I encourage you to study the issues and the candidates and do just that!