found it on another Candidate's forum
For those interested, here is the first page of the document, "GUIDELINES for POLITICAL ACTIVITIES by CHURCHES and PASTORS."
James Madison Center for Free Speech
GUIDELINES for March 2006
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
by CHURCHES AND PASTORS
_________________________
by James Bopp, Jr. General Counsel
James Madison Center for Free Speech
in association with the Alliance Defense Fund
As the 2006 elections approach, and various groups begin again their intimidation tactics in an effort to silence churches and pastors about the great social and moral issues of our time,
churches and pastors need clear guidelines for permissible political activities. In response to that need, the James Madison Center for Free Speech and the Alliance Defense Fund are providing these guidelines3 and will respond free of charge to inquiries by churches, pastors, and priests on permissible political activities through informal e-mails, telephone advice and legal opinion letters.* The Alliance Defense Fund has provided a grant to the James Madison Center for Free Speech for this purpose.
These guidelines summarize the requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act and
James Madison Center for Free Speech, 1 South 6th Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807, voice
812-232-2434, fax 812-235-3685,
http://www.jamesmadisoncenter.org e-mail
madisoncenter@aol.com.
Alliance Defense Fund, 15333 North Prima Road, Suite 165, Scottsdale, AZ 85260,
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org.
The James Madison Center for Free Speech encourages you to copy and share these
guidelines with anyone who may benefit from their use.
*Requests for a formal opinion letter involving substantial legal research are not covered
by the grant. If a request falls into this category, the requesting pastor or priest will be notified assoon as possible so that appropriate arrangements may be made to answer this request.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the1 Government for a redress of grievances.
Here' more info from Liberty Counsel:
http://www.lc.org/resources/pastors_chu ... litics.htm
http://lc.org/index.cfm?PID=15257
GUIDELINES for POLITICAL ACTIVITIES by CHURCHES and PASTORS. This is put out by the James Madison Center for Free Speech, funded by a grant from the Alliance Defense Fund.
http://www.citizenlink.org/images/ivote ... slegal.pdf
(Note: March 2006 version is updated and current.)
This is a must read for all 501(c)(3) organizations. :
ACTIVITY
Endorse a canidate for political office? CHURCH: NO PASTOR: Yes
Allow candidates to speak on church
premises? CHURCH: Yes PASTOR: N/A
Rent list of church members to candidate
for fundraising purposes (at fair market
value)? CHURCH: Yes PASTOR: N/A
Distribute Voter Guides CHURCH: Yes PASTOR: Yes
Engage in voter registration, voter identification, get out the votet, voter education ? CHURCH: Yes PASTOR: Yes
(sorry, the examples are a bit cramped & confusing..)
Friends, this is a great tool to help inform and encourage pastors, churches and non-profit organizations to get involved, to let their voices be heard, and to help mobilize the Evangelical Christian vote.
Connect With Us