Kansas Republicans suddenly care about separation of church and state now that Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton is weighing a U.S. Senate bid. The state GOP has a long track record of supporting the MAGA version of religious liberty that seeks…
Judge won’t approve Johnson Amendment settlement
A federal judge in Texas has dealt a serious setback to conservative Christians seeking the right to support political causes and candidates while maintaining tax-exempt status. District Judge J. Campbell Barker in Tyler ruled March 31 he had no authority…
Judge says AU may not intervene in Johnson Amendment litigation
A constitutional watchdog group may not defend the Johnson Amendment in litigation filed by religious groups seeking to promote political causes from the pulpit, a federal judge in Texas ruled. Americans United for Separation of Church and State sought third-party…
Jeffress is a hypocrite testifying against Johnson Amendment
Robert Jeffress testified before the president’s Religious Liberty Commission this week how he and his downtown Dallas church have been persecuted, while failing to acknowledge his own persecution of other religious groups. The pastor of First Baptist Dallas publicized in…
BJC agrees with demand to retain Johnson Amendment
Thirteen U.S. senators and representatives have written to the acting director of the Internal Revenue Service urging him to continue enforcement of the Johnson Amendment that prevents churches and other charities from endorsing political candidates. The IRS announced July 7…
You’ll hear no endorsements from this pulpit
The IRS recently announced it would no longer enforce the Johnson Amendment. The amendment, passed in 1954, bears the name of then-Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson. The Johnson Amendment prohibited churches, religious organizations and other nonprofits from participating in electoral…
What’s your church: Republican? Democrat? Independent? Gospel?
On July 7, 2025, the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division, issued the following ruling: When a house of worship in good faith speaks to its congregation, through its customary channels of communication on matters of faith…
1,000 nonprofits protest loosening Johnson Amendment
More than 1,000 churches and nonprofits in 50 states have signed a letter protesting the Trump administration’s attempt to shield congregations from a law banning tax-exempt organizations from endorsing political candidates. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Billy Long agreed July 7…
An invitation to speak prophetically but not endorse candidates
On July 7, the IRS announced it no longer will enforce restrictions on places of worship endorsing political candidates provided those endorsements occur in the regular communication of the congregation to its members. This is a suspension of enforcement of…
Trump administration says it won’t enforce Johnson Amendment
In a year already chock-full of wins for conservative evangelicals in their culture wars, the Internal Revenue Service said July 7 it no longer will enforce the Johnson Amendment that prevents churches and other nonprofits from endorsing political candidates. Although…
What good is a law that’s not enforced?
If your pastor were to stand in the pulpit this Sunday and explicitly tell you to vote for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris for president, would your church be in legal jeopardy? Technically, yes. Realistically, no. The potential peril…
The political pulpit
Last Sunday, on my way to a neighboring church, I was struck by the sea of political signs lining the road — billboards and bumper stickers promoting candidates for every conceivable office. It’s that time of year again — campaign…