{"id":2934,"date":"2018-07-19T13:35:35","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T18:35:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/?p=2934"},"modified":"2018-07-19T13:37:33","modified_gmt":"2018-07-19T18:37:33","slug":"elca-joins-144-faith-organization-in-calling-on-congress-to-defend-the-johnson-amendment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/elca-joins-144-faith-organization-in-calling-on-congress-to-defend-the-johnson-amendment\/","title":{"rendered":"ELCA joins 144 Faith Organizations in calling on Congress to Defend the Johnson Amendment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America\u00a0 joined 144 Faith organizations in sending the following letter to Chairman Pete Sessions and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Representative James McGovern asking them to support amendments in the Appropriations bill that protect the Johnson Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 July 16, 2018<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mr. Pete Sessions\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Mr. James McGovern<br \/>\nChairman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ranking Member<br \/>\nHouse Rules Committee\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 House Rules Committee<br \/>\nWashington, D.C. 20515\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Washington, D.C. 20515<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Dear Chairman Sessions and Ranking Member McGovern:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>The 145 undersigned organizations write to urge you to rule in order Wasserman Schultz Amendment #8 and Lewis Amendment #48 t<\/strong>o strike the language in Section 112 of the House 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. This provision would make it effectively impossible for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to enforce a long-standing federal law, sometimes referred to as the Johnson Amendment, insofar as it applies to houses of worship.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>The Johnson Amendment protects the integrity of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including houses of worship, by ensuring they do not endorse or oppose candidates.<\/strong> Weakening current law would allow politicians and others seeking political power to pressure churches for endorsements, dividing congregations, and opening them up to the flow of secret money. Americans do not want our charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations to be torn apart by partisan campaign politics. We must keep this valuable safeguard that protects our houses of worship, our charitable and philanthropic organizations, and our political process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Under the current law, which has been in place for the last six decades, houses of worship have maintained robust free speech rights and can speak out on any political and social issues that they see as important.<\/strong> They currently can engage in public debate on any issue, host candidate forums, hold voter registration drives, encourage people to vote, help transport people to the polls and even, with a few boundaries, lobby on specific legislation and invite candidates to speak. They simply cannot endorse or oppose candidates for public office and maintain their special tax-exempt status.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Section 112 would make it very difficult for the IRS to investigate claims that churches have violated the law by requiring consent from the IRS Commissioner for each investigation and notification to two committees in Congress before such investigations commence. The first requirement would slow down, if not functionally halt, the pursuit of 501(c)(3) violations, while the second would only further politicize these law-enforcement investigations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Additionally, although the current law applies to all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, Section 112 in the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill would apply only to houses of worship. <strong>By giving houses of worship special treatment in the enforcement of IRS restrictions on intervention in political campaigns, the amendment raises serious concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and undermines religious freedom.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Opposition to the repeal or weakening of the Johnson Amendment is overwhelming: 106 religious and denominational organizations, more than 5,800 charitable nonprofit organizations, more than 4,500 faith leaders,and state charities officials have all written to Congress to urge it to protect the Johnson Amendment.<strong>We firmly urge you to rule in order the Wasserman Schultz Amendment #8 and Lewis Amendment #48 to remove Section 112 because it would weaken the law that protects houses of worship and other charitable nonprofits.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Sincerely,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Action on Smoking and Health<br \/>\nThe Afiya Center<br \/>\nAfrican American Ministers In Action<br \/>\nAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church<br \/>\nAfrican Methodist Episcopal Zion Church<br \/>\nAgricultural-Natural Resources Trust<br \/>\nAlliance for Strong Families and Communities<br \/>\nAlliance of Baptists<br \/>\nAmerican-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee<br \/>\nAmerican Association of University Women (AAUW)<br \/>\nAmerican Atheists<br \/>\nAmerican Baptist Churches USA<br \/>\nAmerican Baptist Home Mission Societies<br \/>\nAmerican Conference of Academic Deans<br \/>\nAmerican Conference of Cantors<br \/>\nAmerican Council on Education<br \/>\nAmerican Family Voices<br \/>\nAmerican Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)<br \/>\nAmerican Humanist Association<br \/>\nAmerican Jewish Committee (AJC)<br \/>\nAmerican Society of Association Executives<br \/>\nAmericans United for Separation of Church and State<br \/>\nAnti-Defamation League<br \/>\nThe Arc of the United States<br \/>\nThe Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc.<br \/>\nAssociation of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB)<br \/>\nThe Atlantic Foundation<br \/>\nAutism Society of America<br \/>\nBaptist Center for Ethics<br \/>\nBaptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty<br \/>\nBaptist Peace Fellowship of North America<br \/>\nBaptist Women in Ministry<br \/>\nBend the Arc Jewish Action<br \/>\nB\u2019nai B\u2019rith International<br \/>\nBoardSource<br \/>\nThe Bright Lines Project<br \/>\nBurlesque Hall of Fame<br \/>\nCatholics for Choice<br \/>\nCenter for Biological Diversity<br \/>\nCenter for Effective Philanthropy<br \/>\nCenter for Faith and Giving<br \/>\nCenter for Inquiry<br \/>\nCenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers<br \/>\nCenter on Conscience &amp; War<br \/>\nCentral Conference of American Rabbis<br \/>\nChristian Board of Publication\/Chalice Press<br \/>\nCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington<br \/>\nCongregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, US Provinces<br \/>\nCooperative Baptist Fellowship<br \/>\nCouncil for Global Equality<br \/>\nCouncil on Foundations<br \/>\nDemocracy 21<br \/>\nDisciples Center for Public Witness<br \/>\nDisciples Justice Action Network<br \/>\nThe Episcopal Church<br \/>\nEnd Citizens United<br \/>\nEqual Partners in Faith<br \/>\nEvangelical Lutheran Church in America<br \/>\nEvery Voice<br \/>\nForum for Youth Investment<br \/>\nFreedom From Religion Foundation<br \/>\nFriends Committee on National Legislation<br \/>\nFriends of the Earth<br \/>\nFriends of Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge<br \/>\nGirls Inc.<br \/>\nGreenpeace USA<br \/>\nHabitat for Humanity International<br \/>\nHadassah, The Women\u2019s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.<br \/>\nThe Henry Ford<br \/>\nHindu American Foundation<br \/>\nHindu Mandirs Executives&#8217; Conference<br \/>\nHip Hop Caucus<br \/>\nHomeowners Against Deficient Dwellings<br \/>\nHope Partnership for Missional Transformation<br \/>\nHuman Rights Campaign<br \/>\nImpact Fund<br \/>\nIndependent Sector<br \/>\nInterfaith Alliance<br \/>\nInstitute for Science and Human Values<br \/>\nIslamic Networks Group<br \/>\nJewish Council for Public Affairs<br \/>\nThe Jewish Federations of North America<br \/>\nJWI<br \/>\nKeshet<br \/>\nLand Trust Alliance<br \/>\nLymphoma Foundation of America<br \/>\nManagement Assistance Group<br \/>\nMedical Students for Choice<br \/>\nMen of Reform Judaism<br \/>\nMENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership<br \/>\nMethodist Federation for Social Action<br \/>\nMorino Institute<br \/>\nMusic Medicine Institute<br \/>\nMuslim Public Affairs Council<br \/>\nNARAL Pro-Choice America<br \/>\nNational Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd<br \/>\nNational African American Clergy Network<br \/>\nNational Association of Charitable Gift Planners<br \/>\nNational Benevolent Association<br \/>\nNational Center for Lesbian Rights<br \/>\nNational Center for Transgender Equality<br \/>\nNational Committee for Responsive Philanthropy<br \/>\nNational Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)<br \/>\nNational Council of Churches<br \/>\nNational Council of Jewish Women<br \/>\nNational Council of Nonprofits<br \/>\nNational Employment Law Project<br \/>\nNational Human Services Assembly<br \/>\nNational LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund<br \/>\nNETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice<br \/>\nNetwork of Jewish Human Service Agencies<br \/>\nNew Baptist Covenant<br \/>\nNew Ways Ministry<br \/>\nNonprofit Leadership Alliance<br \/>\nNorth American Bramble Growers Research Foundation<br \/>\nNorth Side Action &amp; Resistance (Indivisible)<br \/>\nNursing Students for Sexual &amp; Reproductive Health<br \/>\nPartnership for America&#8217;s Children<br \/>\nPension Fund of the Christian Church<br \/>\nPeople For the American Way<br \/>\nPhillips Theological Seminary<br \/>\nPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)<br \/>\nPublic Citizen<br \/>\nRachel Carson Council<br \/>\nThe Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association<br \/>\nReligious Institute<br \/>\nRootstrikers Project at Demand Progress<br \/>\nSecular Coalition for America<br \/>\nSenior Executives Association (SEA)<br \/>\nSexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)<br \/>\nT&#8217;ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights<br \/>\nThe United Methodist Church &#8211; General Board of Church and Society<br \/>\nUnion for Reform Judaism<br \/>\nUnitarian Universalist Association<br \/>\nUnited Church of Christ, Justice &amp; Witness Ministry<br \/>\nUnited Philanthropy Forum<br \/>\nU.S. PIRG<br \/>\nVibrant America, Inc.<br \/>\nVoices for Progress<br \/>\nVolunteers of America<br \/>\nWasteWater Education<br \/>\nWomen of Reform Judaism<br \/>\nWomen&#8217;s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)<br \/>\nYouth Advocate Programs<br \/>\nYWCA USA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America\u00a0 joined 144 Faith organizations in sending the following letter to Chairman Pete Sessions and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Representative James McGovern asking them to support amendments in the Appropriations bill that protect the Johnson Amendment. &nbsp; \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":249,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ELCA joins 144 Faith Organizations in calling on Congress to Defend the Johnson Amendment - ELCA Advocacy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/advocacy\/elca-joins-144-faith-organization-in-calling-on-congress-to-defend-the-johnson-amendment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" 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