The Government Continues to Target Churches and Ministries

Posted On
01/04/2008

The Government Continues to Target Churches and Ministries

Some readers considered me alarmist when I spoke out so strongly against the Senator Charles Grassley investigation of 6 major media ministries. Certainly some of the ministries are pushing the limits in a number of ways, and I don’t personally agree with much of what some are doing. Should they be called on the carpet? Absolutely. But even if you strongly dislike these or other ministries, I’m not sure it’s the place of the government to decide the boundaries of what constitutes church or ministry. Besides, we already have the IRS to deal with, so do we really need more government intrusion into religious affairs?

Now, the Wall Street Journal, in yesterday’s addition cites numerous stories of government intervention in church and ministry affairs across the country in other ways. Particularly as churches or ministries grow and try to make a community impact, tax assessors are getting greedy and wanting a cut of the action. Granted, some of these operations are big, but I still wince when I hear of a local tax guy trying to score points by taxing a local church or trying to limit their operations.

We are in a changing time for religious expression – no question about that. Some ministries own TV stations or networks, churches own shopping malls, and still others work closely with government programs for relief work. So local tax agencies are trying to figure out how all this impacts the local economy and what should and shouldn’t be interfered with.

But that bothers some religious scholars. James Vaughn, law professor at Texas Tech University says, “When you have a taxing authority trying to decide what’s your ministry and what’s not, I see a problem here.”

I couldn’t agree more. The numbers are significant. According to the Journal:

Joyce Meyer Ministries was hit with a $372,000 tax bill in Fenton, Missouri.

Heartland Community Church in Rockford, IL was presented a $132,000 bill.

Evangel Cathedral in Maryland faced a $66,212 assessment. … and the growing list continues. Mostly spurred by aggressive, local, tax accessors.

I worry that if we can’t assemble a group of religious leaders and scholars to make a case of what is and isn’t ministry, and where the limits should be drawn, the government will do it for us. And trust me, the government’s opinion won’t match ours…..

This entry was posted on Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Bart Breen

This has been happening for years and the battle ground has been more a local one than a national one, though perhaps the Grassley investigations will garner it more attention.

Local Property taxes are where this hits the hardest.

Local Tax boards do not like non-profit organizations. They have a set amount of property in their jurisdiction and when any parcel is made into a tax-exempt entity, depending upon the local and state laws, their taxable base is reduced which forces them to either raise rates on their smaller base or cut services. (Of course, they could eliminate waste too, but be serious …..).

So, in general there are certain strategies pursued.

1. Find every reason to deny the local proptery tax exemption application making it prohibitively expensive for some organizations to gain and so they give up and move somewhere else or pay the taxes.

2. Use zoning laws to prohibit churches from as many areas as possible. This became such a problem in the late 90's it finally garnered enough attention at the Federal Level that congress passed a law limiting zoning boards from doing this. (An instance of the Federal Gov't standing up for the churches against local and state gov'ts)

3. Parse existing laws to where property taxes are assessed on every part of a Church except the actual worship space on a pro-rated basis which of course, means the Church pays pretty close to the full assessment that any other organization does.

If you don't mind me giving a plug, a pretty strong expert in this field is Richard Hammar whose Church Tax and Law report was a resource I used when I was in leadership roles at the Church and District level. He's been beating this drum for a long time.

I understand the dilemma faced by local governments. They are cash strapped, and find themselves having to make hard choices. The changes in our society taking place where the US is seen less as a Christian Nation coupled with the rise in Atheist Activists encouraged by the recent literary successes of Dawkins, Hutchins and Dennett sognal a potential change in public sentiment. The Churches and Religious Non-Profits are safer targets to get cash than attempting to raise taxes and make no mistake, politicans in general know this and are testing the waters for the times and opportunities they can nibble away to garner these resources.

It's not new. It's been a trend for as long as I've been associated with ministry. Maybe it's accelerating now.
http://lunarskeletons.blogspot.com Oengus Moonbones

Phil, I appreciate your keeping tabs on this investigation and for keeping your eyes on the larger picture.

The more common reaction in many quarters has been mostly one of Schadenfreud it seems. Plenty of people relish the thought of some ministry they particularly dislike getting stomped by the Grassley Investigation.

But I think you are right in keeping the larger picture in view. I think that government coercion of churches is a definite peril.
Joe

I agree with the Ron Paul supporter :) This is horrible…
chad_michael

vote ron paul :) america needs a change and a limited government is a huge place to start…
Kevin Wallace

While I am always for smaller government, it is about time these "ministries" are held accountable. I am tired of these "leaders" representing me as a Christian. I say we need to make them open their books. I attended a large church in Central California, and after getting close to the Pastor, understand why most of them want this Non-profit treatment. While I know (I hope), there are churches out there that are responsible with their congregations money. Sadly, "professional Christians" are taking place of sheppards.
Phil Andrews

Maybe some of these taxing authorities see how the leaders of these parachurches live. Some have large home and expensive cars and operate their ministries as a business. I've tried to donate to some Christian TV Networks, but they don't publish their financials because they say they are a church. I find that hard to believe that the IRS could ever consider them a church when you look at the criteria that they set.
http://www.inthatdayteachings.com Robert Winkler Burke

1/3/08 — Watch, Weep and Wonder – For a collection of videos showing unrepentant responses from televangelists undergoing financial investigation by the US Senate, see The Wittenburg Door, a satire magazine published by Ole Anthony, founder of Trinity Foundation: http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/televangelism/scorecard. (Watch the bottom-of-the-page 11/18/07 CNN video where suddenly (i.e. BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY) at the end Ole appears to give a word of the Lord to viewers disgusted with Televangelist Christianity!) God's blessings on Ole to be able to perform for our Lord!!! Below is the ASTONISHING transcript:

CNN’s Drew Marshall: Ole Ole Anthony, you are good to bring us this information. We’re going to call you back, is that cool?

Ole Anthony: That’s great.

CNN’s Drew Marshall: I appreciate it, man.

Ole Anthony: Can I? Do you have?

CNN’s Drew Marshall: Do you want to finish up? Go ahead.

Ole Anthony: Well, there are many, many people in America that have been turned away from God by these men. And could I just say what I think God would say to these people?

CNN’s Drew Marshall: Please!

Ole Anthony: He would say, Oh stubborn and rebellious child, has my love no longer the power to melt your heart? Have you been driven away by those who claim to know me but were filled with hypocrisy, and greed and drunk with the stench of a death faith? Let the dead bury the dead. Let ignorance reproduce itself until it is weary of its own offspring. This is between you and me. You can no longer resist my Spirit without suffering pain. Come back. All is forgiven.

CNN’s Drew Marshall: You know it is not everyday that we let somebody quote that kind of scripture [Marshall did not comprehend this was "living waters" rhema, not dead logos scripture. – rwb] here on this show. But you know what? I’m glad we did. I think it was the right time. Thanks again for being with us (Ole Anthony) we’ll be right back. Stay with us.

Ole Anthony: Thank you.

provided by http://www.inthatdayteachings.com
http://lunarskeletons.blogspot.com Oengus Moonbones

I rest my case.
david needham

I am sick and tired of the Word of Faith movement, and its aberrant teachings. I have been fooled not once, but twice. Thank the Lord for leading me out of this quagmire.

It is time, or way past time, for the real true body of Christ to put away “organized Christianity,” or “professional Christianity.” We need to go back to pre-300BC times, before the “institutionalized Church.” The big and rich church just makes me puke. And I think it is the lukewarm church that makes Jesus puke too. It is nauseating.

The real church is the house church, or the home church. As few as two or three gathered together. You don’t need to have a multi-million dollar budget, and everyone (just like the Apostle Paul) can keep their 9 to 5 (and work an honest job for a living), and not have false hopes of getting Rich! (Don’t forget to roll that “R” in Rich!)

On My God, don’t get me started . . .

Phil Cooke

NEXT SPEAKING EVENT:

The Government Continues to Target Churches and Ministries

Production : Strategy : Digital Media : Consultation