Further Reading
- Letter to Religious Leaders for Election Season 2010
Dear Religious Leader,
As Election Day draws near, candidates and their supporters may seek help or endorsements from your house of worship. Thus, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the law governing electioneering by nonprofit organizations. Read More… - Public Opinion Polls Show Broad Opposition To Church Partisanship
In September of 2008, Southern Baptist-affiliated LifeWay Research released a public opinion poll that showed broad opposition to church endorsements of political candidates or any use of church resources to support candidates’ campaigns.
- Church & State Article: Religious Right Groups Want Pastors To ‘Cross The Line’ On Church Politicking – And Spark A Court Showdown
The Alliance Defense Fund, a national Religious Right legal group founded by television preachers, urged religious leaders to violate the law barring church electioneering during services on Sept. 28, 2008. (The group repeated the stunt in 2009 and plans to do so again in 2010.) This article from Church & State magazine explains why clergy should reject the ADF overture for legal and ethical reasons.
- Pew Research Center Poll on Religion in Public Life
The Pew Research Center is a respected organization that conducts some of the best polling available about the role of religion in public life. In August of 2008, the Pew Center released a poll finding that more Americans than ever – including self-identified conservatives – were questioning the appropriateness of mixing religion and politics. See the full results of the poll here.
- Brochure: Religion, Partisan Politics and Tax Exemption
This brochure provides an overview of church politicking. Download PDF