Pastors have been at the very center of American society since even before our founding as a nation, and they remain an integral part of the lives of untold of millions of Americans today. They cheer us on when we succeed, lift us up when we fall, and pray with us in our darkest times of need. Pastors were leaders in the fight for American independence, pastors made the moral case to abolish slavery, pastors argued for women’s suffrage, pastors advocated for much needed child labor laws, and pastors – including one from Georgia whose life is celebrated by a new monument in Washington, DC – championed the cause of civil rights. During every national moment of crisis, we turn to our pastors for guidance, strength, and wisdom.
Our First Amendment protects freedom of speech and religion, which has made these significant accomplishments possible. If pastors had been silenced, if they had not been free to speak out on issues in our society, America would not be what it is today. In fact, America would not be.
We live in a rich, diverse society today. A society with differing viewpoints and beliefs, a society of open discourse in which tolerance makes it possible for us to disagree with respect. We also live in a society that values equality, including the notion that everyone has the right to publicly express deeply held beliefs without fear of persecution or reprisal. People of faith – who are a significant part of America’s rich rainbow of diversity – share the same fundamental rights as other groups.
Your legal actions against a group of respected clergy members in the city of Houston constitute aggressive bullying, the very offense from which you seek to protect another community in the city. This is unconstitutional, un-American, and the very height of hypocrisy.
By signing this petition, I stand with these valued faith leaders and demand that you cease and desist all bullying and other offensive actions against them. I also call on the City of Houston, in their quest to provide protection for LGBT citizens, to equally and explicitly acknowledge and ensure the equal rights of people of faith to live and express openly their deeply held religious beliefs. Furthermore, I ask that you apologize to the pastors, the people of Houston, and people of faith across the nation. Nobody should face persecution in America simply for what they believe.
Now, more than ever, we need pastors to rise up and speak the truth on the issues of today.
Encourage your pastor to join the Pulpit Freedom movement!
Stand with the Houston Five (the five pastors) and spread the word by sharing on Facebook or Twitter. Click here for Facebook, and here for Twitter, using the hashtag #4Houston5.
Let the city of Houston know that this is a problem! Share on Facebook here and on Twitter here, using the hashtag #4Houston5.
Annise Parker
901 Bagby
Houston, Tx. 77002
This is the mayor of Houston who is not only trampling on free speech but also separation of church and state. I propose that we, all Bible believing Christians, or constitution supporting Americans, assist in fulfilling her request of issuing a subpoena for pastoral sermons by sending her a copy of the Bible and/or a copy of the United States Constitution. Let's see if we can send her 1,000,000 Bibles by the end of the month!
Please share and spread this proposal!
In our society, churches that overtly become political lose their tax exempt status.
If a small group of pastors use their pulpits for overtly political purposes, they should be willing to face political opposition.
Pastors and their church boards need to think long and hard about the political content and activity their church engages in.
If a pastor resists sin in society, and admonishes his congregation of believers to do the same, all is well.
But when citizens meet in a church and strategize how to enact political change, they put themselves at risk of political reprisal.
In Houston, are all churches being given subpoenas, or just a very few ?
Pastors and boards need to carefully consider how to resist sinful influences upon society in a apolitical manner.
I haven't read anything where these Pastors met "in a church" to "strategize how to enact political change." In fact, these Pastors didn't even sign on to the lawsuit against the city. Don't put the blame on the Pastors for the subpeona. This is 100% complete abuse of power from the Mayor's office.
As far as churches needing to be punished for being political, we have a first amendment which guarantees free speech and free exercise of religion.
BTW, were it not for churches, blacks would not have had their civil rights movement. The church better be involved in all things: spiritual, social and political.
Were it not for churches, many communities would be adversly affected. The church's primary mission should be reaching the lost; however, it also should be willing and quick to respond to social and political issues affecting the community in which it is located.
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The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
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The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
That is the problem with churches having 501c3 status.
Because of this some churches have rejected having 501c3 status, that way they can preach anything they want without having to answer to Caesar.
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**Original Matthew 28:19 Restored**
Hybrid Mode
