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LIMITS OF CHURCH ACTION
Churches may NOT:
- Endorse candidates directly or indirectly from the pulpit on behalf of the church.
- Contribute funds or services (such as mailing lists or office equipment) directly to candidates or political committees.
- Distribute materials that clearly favor any one candidate or political party.
- Pay fees for partisan political events from church funds.
- Allow candidates to solicit funds while speaking in church.
- Set up a political committee that would contribute funds to political candidates.
Churches MAY:
- Conduct non-partisan voter registration drives.
- Distribute non-partisan voter education materials, such as Christian Coalition voter guides and scorecards.
- Host candidate or issue forums where all viable candidates are invited and allowed to speak.
- Allow candidates and elected officials to speak at church services; if one is allowed to speak, others should not be prohibited from speaking.
- Educate members about pending legislation.
- Lobby for legislation and may spend no more than an insubstantial amount of its budget (five percent is safe) on direct lobbying activities.
- Endorse candidates in their capacity as private citizens - a pastor does not lose his right to free speech because he is an employee of a church.
- Participate fully in political committees that are independent of the church
Adapted from RestoreAmerica.org
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