What can Pastors Say Regarding Politics?

Written by Kelly Boggs

McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)--I have long maintained that those who jump to conclusions reveal more about themselves than the situations they assess. Never has my theory been more on display than in the case of Pastor Chan Chandler and the East Waynesville Baptist Church in Waynesville, N.C.

 According to reports, during a May 3 deacon’s meeting that was open to the entire congregation, nine members of the church were dismissed from the church. The nine maintained they were dismissed because of their political beliefs, with eight saying they were Democrats.

The disgruntled members said the trouble began on Oct. 3, 2004, when Pastor Chandler waxed political in a sermon. They even provided proof via an audio tape.

"Now, friend, you know and I know abortion is wrong, there's no way around it," Chandler told the congregation. "But the question then comes in the Baptist church, how do I vote? Let me just say this right now: If you vote for John Kerry this year, you need to repent or resign. You have been holding back God's church way too long. And I know I may get in trouble for saying that, but just pour it on."

Since the occasion of the aforementioned statement, the nine told reporters that Pastor Chandler’s sermons were often “political.”

Other members of the church do not agree. "I don't believe he preached politics," church member Rhonda Trantham told the Associated Press. "I don't believe anyone should tell a preacher not to preach what's in the Bible."

Chandler told Baptist Press that his words were misunderstood.

"I don't know how these folks voted," Chandler said. "And I never endorsed any candidate." Referencing his Oct. 3 sermon, Chandler said he did cite what he believes are the "unbiblical values" of some political hopefuls. "But those were negative endorsements -- never a positive endorsement" of any candidate, he said, whether Republican, Democrat or independent.

"This never has been about politics," Chandler told BP. "It's always been about whether the Bible applies to the entire life of a Christian." He explained that some Southern Baptists have held for decades the belief that religion and politics should never mix. Chandler believes Christians entering a voting booth have a much weightier spiritual responsibility than they do a political one.

As to the reports the nine individuals were “dismissed” from the church, the details are a bit hazy. Chandler told BP they initially left voluntarily. Because some of those who willingly forfeited their memberships were trustees of the church, some members thought it prudent to make their actions official.

Citing misunderstanding, misrepresentation and media attention, Chandler resigned from East Waynesville Baptist Church at a business meeting on May 10.

The facts of the situation remain unclear and may never be fully understood. Several elements helped to complicate the situation.

The misunderstanding of what a pastor can and cannot do in regard to political candidates likely contributed to the confusion. It seems that Chandler, as well as the membership of the church, are unclear about what the IRS allows.

Some “watchdog” groups have long maintained that pastors who broach politics risk running afoul of the IRS, especially if they endorse a candidate.

A pastor and/or church can address moral issues. While some members charged Chandler with being “political,” I suspect much of his preaching dealt with issues of a moral nature that have become politicized in recent decades. Abortion and homosexuality immediately come to mind.

A church member with uncritical views of abortion or homosexuality would probably not appreciate Chandler’s preaching. However, characterizing it as “political” would probably be a gross overstatement.

While the IRS does not allow a church to endorse a candidate, a pastor may. However, when a pastor supports a candidate and how he goes about it is crucial. If a pastor endorses a candidate during an official meeting of the church, does so in an official church publication or on church stationery, he will violate IRS rules pertaining to nonprofit organizations.

The IRS would likely view Pastor Chandler’s declaration that members who support John Kerry should “repent or resign” as a tacit endorsement of a candidate. Even the most politically active pastor would agree that his statement was unwise. And it would certainly not curry favor with any disgruntled members.

Another element that hampered the situation at East Waynesville is those convinced there is a vast right-wing conspiracy seeking to morph America into a theocracy. Pundits who believe conservative Christians are a threat to democracy characterized Chandler as a neo-fascist.

Most reports failed to mention that one of the nine “dismissed” from the church happened to be a Republican who voted for Bush. Now how did that little fact slip from the reports? Surely the media do not have an agenda to promote? Nah, “right-wing nuts” always get a fair shake in the media, right?

Chandler’s unwillingness to speak to the media only fueled the conspiracy theorists’ fires. He waited several days after the May 3 incident before speaking to Baptist Press. As one who has been misquoted by the press, even when I have not addressed an issue, I can hardly blame him. Selective quotes and sound bites rarely lend themselves to conflict resolution.

Anyone acquainted with church politics -– Baptist or not –- realizes the realities of many situations are often colored by perceptions, rumor, innuendo and even relationships. No matter how you look at it, the situation at East Waynesville Baptist Church is as complicated as it is sad. Those who jump to conclusions should keep that in mind.

Kelly Boggs is pastor of the Portland-area Valley Baptist Church in McMinnville, Ore.

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