By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
FIn America, the Black church has always played a major role in black communities, dating as far back as slavery. In the historic book Angier North Carolina from an African American Perspective, the authors explain, “Because of the bondage imposed on them by a people that only valued them for their free labor, places of worship were safe havens for their spirits and souls. They were places to meet and socialize, places to share a common bond with others that found themselves in a similar predicament, places to cry out and talk to God, pleading to be delivered from their bondage. For African Americans, churches were the one place they felt accepted and free to express and be themselves.”
Thus, churches, particularly the Black church, are essential for communicating the thoughts and ideas to move the community forward. For decades, the Johnson Amendment, a provision in the 1954 tax code, has been the bedrock for regulating how much churches and other non-profits can engage in political activity. Specifically, it prohibited all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations (including our local churches, charities, and universities) from "directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office."
However, we're observing a significant shift, not through a congressional repeal, but through a new, narrower interpretation of this law by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This change is primarily a result of legal challenges from religious groups who argued the Johnson Amendment infringed upon their First Amendment rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion. In a federal court filing in July 2025, the IRS settled a case brought by a Christian media group and two churches. The outcome is likely to impact the flow of the Sunday service significantly. The IRS has stated it will no longer interpret the Johnson Amendment to prohibit a house of worship from discussing the "character or qualifications" of a political candidate with its congregation, through its usual channels, and during religious services. Essentially, the IRS agreed that such communications, when made "in good faith" on matters of collective concern to a congregation during a service, aren't considered "intervening" in a political campaign. Instead, they're viewed as a private matter, similar to a "family discussion." The practical upshot is that houses of worship now have the right to endorse or criticize candidates from the pulpit during religious services without risking their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
This shift formalizes what has often been an unspoken practice. Historically, the IRS has been reluctant to enforce the Johnson Amendment against churches for statements made from the pulpit. Furthermore, in 2017, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing the Treasury Department to "exercise maximum enforcement discretion" toward religious organizations under the Johnson Amendment, effectively telling the IRS not to pursue penalties for political speech. The 2025 IRS court filing is seen as the formalization of this policy through legal interpretation.
This amendment has profound implications for the relationship between church and state, and it’s something we as bible belt residents should be paying attention to. Experts are predicting this could lead to a significant increase in political endorsements during worship services, further blurring the line between faith and partisan politics. Critics are concerned that allowing churches to act as partisan political entities while retaining their tax-exempt status could erode public trust and potentially create an avenue for political operatives to funnel untaxed money through churches in exchange for endorsements. Others argue that the church, a cultural hub, has always been political. Pastor Larry Cameron of Westwood Church of God of Prophecy in Erwin, North Carolina, shared, “With all these different denominations, we need to prioritize sticking to what it takes to raise our children and put food on the table. If we focus on those things when we come together, we can address those issues for the community.” As our community navigates these changes, it's crucial to consider the long-term impact on our religious institutions and the broader political landscape. The conversation around faith and politics is only going to get louder, and understanding these shifts is key for all of us.
