Faith Leaders Are Called to Speak Truth to Power, and We Cannot Do So If We Are Merely Cogs in Partisan Political Machines
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June 7, 2018 Dear Representative: As a leader in my religious community, I am strongly opposed to any effort to repeal or weaken current law that protects houses of worship from becoming centers of partisan politics. Changing the law would threaten the integrity and independence of houses of worship. We must not allow our sacred spaces to be transformed into spaces used to endorse or oppose political candidates. Faith leaders are called to speak truth to power, and we cannot do so if we are merely cogs in partisan political machines. The prophetic role of faith communities necessitates that we retain our independent voice. Current law respects this independence and strikes the right balance: houses of worship that enjoy favored tax-exempt status may engage in advocacy to address moral and political issues, but they cannot tell people who to vote for or against. Nothing in current law, however, prohibits me from endorsing or opposing political candidates in my own personal capacity. Changing the law to repeal or weaken the “Johnson Amendment” – the section of the tax code that prevents tax-exempt nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing candidates – would harm houses of worship, which are not identified or divided by partisan lines. Particularly in today’s political climate, engaging in partisan politics and issuing endorsements would be highly divisive and have a detrimental impact on congregational unity and civil discourse. I therefore urge you to oppose any repeal or weakening of the Johnson Amendment, thereby protecting the independence and integrity of houses of worship and other religious organizations in the charitable sector. Respectfully,* *A previous version of this letter sent in August of 2017 contained just over 4,000 signers. This version contains over 4,600 signers, including those added since August. ALABAMA Locust Fork, AL Rev. Steven Barber, Licensed Local Pastor United Methodist Church Mrs. Ruth Gynther, United Methodist Florence, AL Women Coordinator for Social Action Auburn United Methodist Mr. Robert Beckerle, Former Deacon & Auburn, AL Trustee Hillcrest Baptist Church Todd Heifner, Co-Director Mobile, AL Hope Manifest, Inc. Birmingham, AL Rev. Allan Burton, Co-Founder and Director Hope Manifest, Inc. Amy Kearney, Lay Leader, Sunday School Birmingham, AL Teacher First Baptist Church Rev. Gary Burton, Pastor Huntsville, AL Pintlala Baptist Church Hope Hull, AL Rev. Candice Klein, Pastor Big Cove Presbyterian Church Rev. Paul Byrd, Chaplain Brownsboro, AL Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Birmingham, AL Mrs. Therese Laeger, Staff Parish Committee Rev. Terri Byrd, Coordinator Avondale United Methodist Church Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Birmingham, AL Birmingham, AL Rev. Dr. Gene Lankford, Senior Pastor Mr. Brian Denton-Trujillo, Lay Leader Calera First United Methodist Church Episcopal Church of the Ascension Calera, AL Vestavia Hills, AL Mrs. Margaret Mangham, Deacon, Director Rev. Lucas Dorion, Associate Coordinator of Child Development Center Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship First Baptist Church, Mobile, AL Hoover, AL Mobile, AL Rev. Andy Gartman, Pastor Dr. Dick Maples, Adjunct Professor of Hartford First United Methodist Church Religion Hartford, AL Southern Baptist Convention, Dallas Baptist University Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith, Solo Rabbi Guntersville, AL Temple Emanu-el Dothan, AL Rev. Dr. Norman Martin, Retired Chaplain Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Pastor Mart Gray, Retired Pastor Auburn, AL Non-Denominational Dr. Tripp Martin, Pastor Auburn First Baptist Church Scotti Simpson, Minister to Students Auburn, AL First Baptist Church of Williams Jacksonville, AL Joe McDade, Retired Minister Baptist Rev. Ellen Sims, Pastor Montgomery, AL Open Table United Church of Christ Mobile, AL Rabbi Jonathan Miller, Rabbi Temple Emanu-El Jenny Smith, Lay Leader Birmingham, AL Baptist Church of the Covenant Birmingham, AL Rev. Brad Mitchell, Pastor Alpine Baptist Church Rev. E. Tramaine Solomon, Senior Pastor Alpine, AL Springhill Baptist Church Lineville, AL Cynthia Mitchell, Lay Leader Alpine Baptist Church Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed, Minister Alpine, AL Baptist Northport, AL Dr. Paul Richardson, Deacon Baptist Church of the Covenant Dr. Ed Sunday-Winters, Pastor Birmingham, AL First Baptist Church Phenix City, AL Charles Rosecrans, Deacon First Baptist Church Rev. Patti Sunday-Winters, Lay Leader Huntsville, AL First Baptist Church Phenix City, AL Cantor Jessica Roskin, Cantor Temple Emanu-El Dr. Charlotte Ward, Deacon Birmingham, AL Auburn First Baptist Church Auburn, AL Mrs. Beth Ryan, Lay Leader Most Merciful Jesus Parish Rev. Dr. James Williams, Retired System Madison, AL Director of Pastoral Care Hospital Chaplain, Cooperative Baptist Nancy Sales, Lay Leader Fellowship First Congregational Church, UCC Montgomery, AL Birmingham, AL Dr. Joel Williams, Minister Mr. Kirk Shaw, Deacon Churches of Christ Spring Hill Baptist Church (Southern Florence, AL Baptist) Mobile, AL Rev. Michael Wilson, Director Center for Congregational Resources Jo Anne Hayden, Lay Leader Birmingham, AL United Methodist Church Anchorage, AK ALASKA Valerie Baffone, Vestry Member Lesley Hoffman, Drama Coordinator St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Baptist Anchorage, AK Wasilla, AK Ms. Candace Bell, President Mrs. Patricia Kennish, Lay Leader Alaska Christian Conference St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish Anchorage, AK Anchorage, AK Rev. David Boling, Associate Minister Richard Mauer, Pastor First Christian Church Delta Presbyterian Faith Lutheran Church Anchorage, AK Delta Junction, AK Rev. Paul Boling, Senior Minister Ms. Marianne Mills, Council Member First Christian Church Northern Light United Church Anchorage, AK Juneau, AK Mary Bristol, Church Council Member Rev. Gayle Nauska, Priest Associate Lutheran St. Mary's Episcopal Anchorage, AK Anchorage, AK Rev. Michael Burke, Rector, Senior Pastor Nora Ortiz Fredrick, Director St. Mary's Episcopal Church Alaska Christian Conference Anchorage, AK Anchorage, AK Bonnie Demerjian, Lay Leader Rev. Jacob Poindexter, Senior Minister St. Philip's Episcopal Church First Congregational Church of Anchorage Wrangell, AK Anchorage, AK Susan Dunkin, Deacon Sr. Kathy Radich, Coordinator of Ministries First Presbyterian Church Catholic Anchorage, AK Saint Mary's, AK Ms. Lyn Franks, Worship Leader Rev. Nico Romeijn-Stout, Pastor of St. Mary's Episcopal Discipleship and Social Justice Anchorage, AK St. John United Methodist Church Anchorage, AK Rabbi Abram Goodstein, Rabbi/Educator Congregation Beth Sholom Rev. Julia Seymour, Pastor Anchorage, AK Lutheran Church of Hope Anchorage, AK Janet Bauer, Lay Leader Rev. Dr. Sarah Welton, Pastor Independent Baptist Church of the Covenant, American Baptist Peoria, AZ Palmer, AK Pastor Don Benton, Senior Pastor Janice Whalen, Lay Leader Scottsdale United Methodist Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Phoenix, AZ Valdez, AK Gail Bird, Lay Leader Bishop Shelley Wickstrom, Bishop United Church of Christ Alaska Synod - Evangelical Lutheran Mesa, AZ Church in America (ELCA) Anchorage, AK Rev. Sandra Britton, Chaplain United Church of Christ Clergy Rev. Daniel Wilcox, Pastor Pheonix, AZ Christ First United Methodist Church Wasilla, AK Rev. Sara Day, Leader American Baptist Churches in the USA Rev. Randall Young, Pastor Flagstaff, AZ Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA) Fairbanks, AK Pastor Winona (Noni) Dye, Pastor Shepherd of the Pines United Methodist ARIZONA Church Rev. Brady Abel, Senior Pastor Overgaard, AZ United Church of Sun City, AZ - United Church of Christ Mrs. Deborah Finkel, Immediate Past Sun City, AZ President of Arizona Section National Council of Jewish Women Mrs. Patricia Always, Lector, Lay Leader Phoenix, AZ The Franciscan Renewal Center Sun City, AZ Mr. Ronald Fish, Lay Leader Catholic Rev. Boyd L. Baker, Pastor Wickenburg, AZ American Baptist Churches, USA Scottsdale, AZ Rev. Lara Forbes, Pastor Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Rev. Jane Baker, Deacon Phoenix, AZ Dayspring United Methodist Church Tempe, AZ Mr. David Fronske, Volunteer Jail Minister Roman Catholic Rev. Larry Baker, Reverend Flagstaff, AZ United Methodist Arizona City, AZ Bishop Elias Galvan, Executive Director United Methodist Scottsdale, AZ David McPherson, Director of New & Vital Dr. Elizabeth Hertzler, Lay Leader Faith Communities Methodist Desert Southwest Conference of The United Mesa, AZ Methodist Church Phoenix, AZ Dr. Mari Helen High, Lay Leader St. Marks Presbyterian Church Bishop Mark Elliott Newman, OC, Presiding Tucson, AZ Bishop Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch Rev. Judy Hildebrand, Minister Phoenix, AZ Unity of Mesa Mesa, AZ Mr. Jim Nibbelink, Lay Leader United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Amy Jacober, Academic Director & Tucson, AZ Pastoral Leader Sonoran Theological Group Rev. Robert Nuhn, Retired Phoenix, AZ United Church of Christ Sun City West, AZ Mrs. Denise Jurgens, Justice and Witness Committee Chair Rev. Debra Peevey, Community Organizer Desert Palm United Church of Christ Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Gilbert, AZ Surprise, AZ Rev. Kenneth Kennon, Retired Rev. Dr. Troy Petty, Pastor, Pastoral Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Counselor Tucson, AZ Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Goodyear, AZ Mrs. Gail Kenny, Lay Leader Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Prescott Jeannine Reynolds, Deaconess Valley, AZ (ELCA) United Methodist Church Prescott Valley, AZ Sun Lakes, AZ Rev. Kevin Lawson, Minister Gordon Schneider, Board Member Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation Shadow Rock United Church of Christ Flagstaff, AZ Glendale, AZ Rev.