Following Our Voice
Perhaps you have already heard. The United States Internal Revenue Service is investigating All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena, California.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the IRS targeted All Saints because it is stepping up its probe of allegedly improper campaigning by churches. All Saints has historically been involved in social activism, so it was a surprise that an antiwar sermon delivered by its former rector should trigger such a response. Our tax code bars nonprofits from endorsing or campaigning against candidates in an election. This includes churches. Although no candidate was endorsed in the aforementioned sermon, the IRS is treating the matter as if All Saints had publicly supported a particular candidate.
Facing a potential loss of their nonprofit status has ramifications for All Saints, as well as the understanding of how we are to live our faith in churches across this country. All Saints must decide if they will comply by turning over all documentation related to the sermon in question. If they choose not to, the case could be turned over to the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, USA, stated, "I'm outraged. Preachers ought to have the liberty to speak truth to power. There is a lot more to be done about this, and it may include some actions of nonviolent civil disobedience. Since 9/11, the IRS, like the FBI, has been moving back to the 1950's and 1960's when a great deal of such activity was propagated against church leaders like Martin Luther King," said Rev. Edgar.
If you aren't sitting up in your chair at this point, you should be because timing certainly is everything. The midterm elections are weeks away, and since President Bush did no achieve a landslide victory from his reelection campaign, threatening the voices calling people to think before they vote more of Bush's policies in through senators and representatives who support him, must seem like an effective strategy. The IRS holds great power in our country, much more than it should. Not only would this investigation, also reportedly being waged against numerous other congregations, attempt to silence the prophetic voices from our nation's pulpits, but it would seek to close houses of worship permanently. Keeping most churches running is a pray as you go venture. Taking away tax exempt status, or simply the threat of that being held over a congregation's head, will make many, many preachers think twice before quoting Jesus or expounding on his message in ways that clearly inflamed a few other Pharisees. They will feel, and potentially will be, forced to choose: Will it be faith they will live or the fear of financial reprisal on both their personal and vocational lives? And, if their church is choosing faith, do they and their people have enough money to fight the legal battle against their own government for their very right to exist and worship?
These are the times, the moments, that call us to look at what we believe and how we will choose. We may not personally be opening a letter from the IRS. We may not be sitting in the pew of a parish about to realize the literal cost the government is putting on discipleship. But if we believe that God called us into being as a community as the body of Christ, then we are as much a part of the scenario being played out at All Saints Church as its rector and parishioners . They are a part of us and we are a part of them by virtue of Who lives among us and gives us life.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)." The people of All Saints Church have heard God's voice over the years, and have shared what they have heard with great consistency. The sermon that attracted the IRS' attention was delivered in the same church that heard sermons that opposed the Vietnam War and sermons that supported women clergy and gays and lesbians in the church. Its rector spoke out against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is the congregation which will determine whether they will comply with the IRS or face what comes next. Having heard God's voice all these years is a reminder that this is a two-way conversation initiated by God, who is known for sticking around when the going gets tough. God speaks, and if we have been listening, we know the voice we must follow.
Cory L. KempWork At Home From Your Computer
Business Internet Make Marketing Money Strategy Web Credit
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The Los Angeles Times reported that the IRS targeted All Saints because it is stepping up its probe of allegedly improper campaigning by churches. All Saints has historically been involved in social activism, so it was a surprise that an antiwar sermon delivered by its former rector should trigger such a response. Our tax code bars nonprofits from endorsing or campaigning against candidates in an election. This includes churches. Although no candidate was endorsed in the aforementioned sermon, the IRS is treating the matter as if All Saints had publicly supported a particular candidate.
Facing a potential loss of their nonprofit status has ramifications for All Saints, as well as the understanding of how we are to live our faith in churches across this country. All Saints must decide if they will comply by turning over all documentation related to the sermon in question. If they choose not to, the case could be turned over to the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, USA, stated, "I'm outraged. Preachers ought to have the liberty to speak truth to power. There is a lot more to be done about this, and it may include some actions of nonviolent civil disobedience. Since 9/11, the IRS, like the FBI, has been moving back to the 1950's and 1960's when a great deal of such activity was propagated against church leaders like Martin Luther King," said Rev. Edgar.
If you aren't sitting up in your chair at this point, you should be because timing certainly is everything. The midterm elections are weeks away, and since President Bush did no achieve a landslide victory from his reelection campaign, threatening the voices calling people to think before they vote more of Bush's policies in through senators and representatives who support him, must seem like an effective strategy. The IRS holds great power in our country, much more than it should. Not only would this investigation, also reportedly being waged against numerous other congregations, attempt to silence the prophetic voices from our nation's pulpits, but it would seek to close houses of worship permanently. Keeping most churches running is a pray as you go venture. Taking away tax exempt status, or simply the threat of that being held over a congregation's head, will make many, many preachers think twice before quoting Jesus or expounding on his message in ways that clearly inflamed a few other Pharisees. They will feel, and potentially will be, forced to choose: Will it be faith they will live or the fear of financial reprisal on both their personal and vocational lives? And, if their church is choosing faith, do they and their people have enough money to fight the legal battle against their own government for their very right to exist and worship?
These are the times, the moments, that call us to look at what we believe and how we will choose. We may not personally be opening a letter from the IRS. We may not be sitting in the pew of a parish about to realize the literal cost the government is putting on discipleship. But if we believe that God called us into being as a community as the body of Christ, then we are as much a part of the scenario being played out at All Saints Church as its rector and parishioners . They are a part of us and we are a part of them by virtue of Who lives among us and gives us life.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)." The people of All Saints Church have heard God's voice over the years, and have shared what they have heard with great consistency. The sermon that attracted the IRS' attention was delivered in the same church that heard sermons that opposed the Vietnam War and sermons that supported women clergy and gays and lesbians in the church. Its rector spoke out against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is the congregation which will determine whether they will comply with the IRS or face what comes next. Having heard God's voice all these years is a reminder that this is a two-way conversation initiated by God, who is known for sticking around when the going gets tough. God speaks, and if we have been listening, we know the voice we must follow.
Cory L. KempWork At Home From Your Computer
Business Internet Make Marketing Money Strategy Web Credit
Placemat Advertising
Adsense Websites
Ppc Free Software Google Adsense Pay Per Click Make Money
Adsense Area Bay Forum Google Gutner Michael Squirrelmail
Internet Affiliate Program
Google Adsense Really Work
Free New Blogger Templates
Top Network Marketing Companies
Internet Marketing Strategy Resources
Genealogy Search Engines
Guestbook Service For Webmasters Theguestbook Com
Blogging Host
Based Business Home Internet Mail Marketing Money Network
Business Internet
Ebook Torrent
Seo Tool Macao
Andnot Based Business Home Internet Work
Free Adsense Templates
Per Click Promotion Marketing Strategy Pay Ppc
No Fee Work At Home Jobs
Marketing Information Google Adsense Adwords
Home Based Business Opportunities Pay Per Click
Web Marketing Strategy Internet Business Make
Search Engine Marketing Seo Secret Optimization
Catholic Affiliate Webmaster Affiliate
Work At Home Data Entry Online Jobs
The Natural Child Ebook
Adsense Ebook Google Adwords Http
Webmaster Tips Auto
Top Ten Affiliate Programs
Clickbank Thank
Seo Freelance Barcelona
Internet Marketing Strategy Consultants
Business Week Online
Google Ebook Adsense Http
Internet Marketing Strategy Gdi Affiliate Program Global
Consultant Internet Marketing Seo Services Site We
To Make Money On The Internet You Need A Secret
Consulting Internet Marketing Services
Internet Marketing Agency Make Money Online Business Course
Affordable Search Engine Optimization Wisconsin
Based Business Home Internet Make Money Online That Wil
Affiliate Free Product Program Shipping Skin
Marketing Advertising
How To Make Money
Advertising Signs
Expired Domain Affiliate Programs
Clickbank Hop Net Odysseus Surveysc
Make Money On The Internet Make
Network Marketing Affiliate Program
Network Marketing Home Based Business Opportunity
Free Money No Deposit Casinos
Make Money While Online
Keyword Search Engine Submission For Pay Per Click
Free Downloadable Ebooks
Blogging Guidelines
Webmaster Design Course
Internet Marketing Promotion Advertising
Earn Money At Home Online
Google Pay Per Click Consulting Ny
Search Engine Optimization Information
Make Money Online Surf
79 Diet Pills Not Mlm Or Multi Level Network Marketing
Free Webmaster Stuff
Tv Advertising Cost
How To Register Domain Names With Search Engines
Latino Advertising For Laser Vision Correction
Boosting Google Pagerank Ny
Audio Video Search Engines
Clickbank Buddy
Blogging Louisiana Blogging
Internet Based Network Marketing
Good Search Engines
Make Easy Money At Home Credit
Work From Home Internet Business
Age Related Macular Degeneration Radio Advertising
Make Money On The Internet Uk
Make Money Work At Home Unitedpartnerprogram Com2
Search Engine Optimization Case Study
Search Engine Submission Web Site Promotion And Optimization
Business Opportunity Work At Home Make Money
Make Money At Home Free Online Home Based Business
Sitemap
Free Work At Home Opportunity
Clickbank Free Affiliate Program
Make Money On The Internet No Sign Up Fee
Search Free Ways To Make Money Online
Check Page Rank
Business Free Home Home Internet Make Money Online
Easy Ways To Make Alot Of Money Fast Runescape F2p
Ways To Make Extra Money Online
Idaho Make Money At Home
How To Make Money Giving Advice Online
Search Engine Optimization And Seo
How To Register Domain Names To Search Engines
Free Blogger
Keyword Apokyn Boards Blogger Help
Mlm Or Network Marketing
