The Associated Baptist Press is running a six part series on the state of the religious right involvement in politics in the US. The series is focusing on flucuations, trends and ethics.
Render to Caesar Part One: Evangelicals ‘caught in the middle’ of debate over identity, direction
Render to Caesar Part Two: Scripture not easy recipe in politics, ethicists say
Render to Caesar: Part Three:Â ’Red-letter Christians’ a growing political force
Render to Caesar Part Four: Pulpit politics run risk for churches
“When a church or minister becomes identified with any candidate, sooner or later that candidate will embarrass you,†he said. – Joe TrullÂ
While blatant endorsement of a candidate from the pulpit clearly crosses the line, churches can engage in some other political activities, experts agreed:
- Candidate forum. A church can hold a candidate forum at its place of worship, but the congregation needs to make every effort to involve all candidates, not “stack the deck†in favor of one political party.
- Voters’ guides. Churches can distribute a copy of legislators’ voting records on key issues and responses to their questions on specific issues. But experts stress the guides need to be truly impartial — not thinly disguised promotional materials for special-interest groups.
- Prophetic witness. Churches and ministers have the right to speak out on moral issues, even when they may be controversial. Trull pointed to the example of preachers who “took very strong and unpopular positions in opposition to segregation†during the Civil Rights movement.
- Churches also can make an impact through what Paynter called “acts of prophetic generosity†— doing more than what the law requires. - Suzii Paynter
