Our faith is integral to how we, as Christians, attend to the world. Our beliefs and actions are shaped by our relationships with God and one another.

“As with Jesus, the call to love the neighbor and do justice pushes us into engagement with society rather than out of it. Only with appropriate attention to the political can we exercise neighbor love and serve neighbor justice to hold government accountable, oppose social oppression, seek various kinds of liberation, and work toward the common good. Political engagement in this sense is a means of channeling God’s love through civic participation,” states the Faith and Civic Life ELCA social statement.

Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the knowledge, skills, values and motivation needed to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community through both political and nonpolitical processes. 

Here are some resources from our partners:

Do's and Don'ts for Houses of Worship:

It can be difficult to find the line between what you can and cannot say as a faith leader during election season. Our faith communities are organized as a 501(c)(3), a non-profit entity recognized by the IRS as operating exclusively for religious, charitable, educational, scientific, or literary purposes. Being a 501(c)(3), you need to be aware that the Johnson Amendment (added to U.S. tax code in 1954) prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any political party or candidate for public office.

Below is a quick guide to recommended do's and don'ts* for faith communities during election season. For a deeper dive on this topic, explore this recorded webinar by the Interfaith Alliance.

Do NOT:

  • Endorse or oppose a candidate from the pulpit
  • Donate church funds to a campaign
  • Publish “Vote for…” statements in church materials
  • Rate candidates in a biased way
  • Allow only one candidate to speak
  • Use church resources for campaign work

Do:

  • Preach and speak about moral issues
  • Host a neutral candidate forum (equal access required)
  • Conduct non-partisan voter registration drives
  • Distribute unbiased voter or candidate guides
  • Allow multiple candidates equal opportunity

Potential consequences of violating the Johnson amendment:

  • Loss of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Financial penalties
  • Repayment of exempt taxes
  • IRS investigation
  • Legal costs and prolonged scrutiny
  • Prolonged scrutiny and erosion of public trust

*Note this should not be construed as legal advice. Be sure to consult your legal counsel for your specific context.