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| PentecostalTheology.com
The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
Should churches stop being 501(c)3?
“The restriction was championed by (Lyndon Johnson) in 1954 when Johnson was a U.S. senator running for re-election. A conservative nonprofit group that wanted to limit the treaty-making ability of the president produced material that called for electing his primary opponent, millionaire rancher-oilman Dudley Dougherty, and defeating Johnson. There was no church involved. “Johnson, then Democratic minority leader, responded by introducing an amendment to Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code dealing with tax-exempt charitable organizations, including groups organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literacy and educational purposes, or to prevent cruelty to children or animals. It said, in effect, that if you want to be absolved from paying taxes, you couldn’t be involved in partisan politics.”
Varnel Watson
Ricky Grimsley Should churches stop being 501(c)3? http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/should-churches-stop-being-501c3/
Ricky Grimsley
Yes. A thousand times yes
Varnel Watson
And yet they are fixing to be even more 501 under Trump Stan
Stan Wayne
Churches are never 501 (c) 3 – they don’t need to be – they just need to be churches – 501 (c) 3 is for entities that are religious and para church or no religious and educational
Varnel Watson
Most local Pentecostal churches I’ve visited are their own registered 501 (c) 3 entity even if they are part from a larger denomination. With all legal changes in the past 12-15 years the 501 (c) 3 status is needed not only for IRS exempt (which is a whole different thing) but for basic insurance, security systems, etc.
Ira Huth
Troy Day whatever the rulings are in the Church of God Minutes governing 501 (c). It’s funny that you mention this because I found a copy of the COG Minutes from 1944 that was my Dad’s. I have it in a book frame mounted on the wall. I had it out recently looking at it, it’s pretty cool to look at. I also found what appeared to be at first a book marker. I then discovered it was some type of label that you wore at the General Assembly. It was from the COG General Assembly 1934 Chattanooga, Tennessee. That was when my Dad was attending a Store Front that eventually became the Narragansett COG.
I would have to research that to be accurate. You are correct I believe it is different for insurance and other things like Security Systems. FYI!! I’m semi-retired, but I had a Security Company that I turned over to my daughter. We sell state of the art Security Systems at wholesale prices 3 year warranties and free lifetime Tech support direct from the manufacturer. We also provide security services by remote monitoring online working with Law Enforcement agencies, . If you know anyone that might be interested. Face Book page Alpha and Omega Security.
Varnel Watson
Ira I did not mention Cog specifically. Not sure the old or new minutes but in most of their states they are required now to register each local church as an individual 501 (c) 3. That’s all that is to it
Ira Huth
OK thanks for letting me know!
Varnel Watson
All SC churches for example were forced to register as individual 501 c 3 almost decade ago under local legal statue. Many other states followed. There are even cases now where a local church can leave the denomination along with the congregation AND its property. It is happening
Jim Daniel
The Johnson Amendment has never been followed by liberal churches, it has never been enforced by the IRS (because it clearly violates the Freedom of Religion and other clauses) and is clearly an unconsitutional law passed for political purposes. It should be removed from the books.