IRS Should Investigate NC church that Expelled Dems, says AU

[chomskysright]

IRS Should Investigate NC Church that Expelled Democrats, Says AU
May 9, 2005
East Waynesville Baptist Church Immersed In Partisan Activity, Church-State Watchdog Group Charges
____________________________________

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IRS SHOULD INVESTIGATE NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH THAT EXPELLED DEMOCRATS, SAYS AMERICANS UNITED

East Waynesville Baptist Church Immersed In Partisan Activity, Church-State Watchdog Group Charges

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today called on the Internal Revenue Service to investigate a North Carolina church whose pastor garnered national headlines after he expelled several Democrats from the congregation.

Recent actions by Pastor Chan Chandler of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in Waynesville, N.C., are merely indicative of a larger pattern of partisan political activity at the church, Americans United asserts.

Several newspapers and television stations have reported that on Oct. 3, 2004, Chandler told his congregation, "If you vote for John Kerry, you need to repent or resign." Church members told the media that prior to the election, Chandler frequently endorsed President George W. Bush from the pulpit and attacked Kerry.

"Pastor Chandler seems to have confused his church with a Republican Party caucus meeting," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "It's time for the IRS to give him a swift reminder of the laws of the land."

Section 26 U.S.C. 501 (c) (3) of the tax code states that houses of worship and other non-profits may "not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office."

In a letter sent to the IRS today, Americans United requested an investigation of the matter. AU noted that during his sermon last Sunday, Chandler was unapologetic for supporting and opposing candidates from the pulpit and promised to keep doing it.

"I believe it is obvious that Pastor Chandler has openly defied federal tax law and is vowing to do so again," Lynn wrote. "I also believe the IRS cannot afford to ignore such blatant disregard for our nation's tax laws, as it sends a signal to others religious leaders that they too can engage in partisan politicking from the pulpit without fear of sanction."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

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[DoYouEverWonder]

1. It's about time

I'm all for free speech as long as you pay taxes like the rest of us slobs.

[chomskysright]

2. Here are comments from NC Dem party web site on this issue:

http://www.ncdp.org/node/398#comment-84?PHPSESSID=d6e2ba6d8dae3a7f395071a85df2c7b8

I'll Send Money
Submitted by NBachers on Sun, 05/08/2005 - 4:49pm.
The latest news now is that Chandler is backtracking and pretending that none of this really happened. He's a liar. Ed Schultz had an interview on his radio program on Friday. It was a woman who's a member of the East Waynesville Baptist Church. Her sincerity and pain were enough to make you cry. www.bigeddieradio.com One of the news stories mentioned an attorney named David Wijewickrama, who'd been contacted by several of the ousted church members. I sent him an email offering to contribute to the legal fees of anyone he's representing. I can only contribute a token amount, but if there was a donation site, many of the people around the country who are outraged would contribute. At this point, I think there are three priorities: 1. Get the ousted church members reinstated with no penalty. 2. Make Chandler step down as pastor. 3. Get the church's tax-exempt status revoked if Chandler doesn't go. A donation site would help to make this happen. We've seen many, many places around the world where religious fervor mixed with politics has led to the worst of atrocities against citizens. Our nation has been spared most of this because of the separation of church and state. We are entering into a very scary time when fundamentalist religious zealots are attempting to eliminate anyone who doesn't agree with them. This is called Fascism. Politicians from Washington to the locals are pandering to these zealots and using them to gain power. This must be stopped now.

» reply
NCDP - you missed the point!
Submitted by leyton on Sun, 05/08/2005 - 8:50pm.
That is the quote that will appear in national media as the official position of the Democratic Party. A pastor has attacked the very tenets of the Democratic party and has essentially said that one cannot be a Democrat and a Christian. Instead of issuing a threat about the church's tax-exempt status, the party should have issued a statement about why Christians ought to be Democrats. Jesus talked more about poverty and the downtrodden than anything else, and a lot of people feel that the Democratic party is the one that has the interests of those people at heart - they just need reminding. Unfortunately, when people read about the Waynesville incident in their papers, we will be talking about tax-exempt status while pastor Chandler was talking faith and values.

» reply
The Rest of The Story?
Submitted by mustang1 on Mon, 05/09/2005 - 1:57pm.
Where is the rest of this story?? I have only heard one side.. Everyone's outrage is fueled by the comments made by those that were ousted. Now if you were kicked out of your little club wouldn't you come up with the best story you could to get back in?WAKE UP PEOPLE! This entire story is being spoon fed to you by the Associated Press.

» reply

[Maat]

3. Ha! I posted this already .. but in General Discussion.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3625671&mesg_id=3625671

Because I'm a proud AUer too.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Is the minister an active member of the local repug party?

[chomskysright]

6. don't know anything about that.....

[salin]

5. Please keep us updated... isn't tonight the "do-over" meeting?

[chomskysright]

7. will do: nope, best I understood from Sunday @ church:

business meeting is tomorrow at 7 p.m. I believe. I plan on being there.

[salin]

8. thanks - it should be an interesting meeting.

One would think that the pastor and those who "cheered" him will back track (though I would guess the vote taken last week should be recorded - as in IN WRITING - as to those objecting to pastor's assertion that the church is a "republican church" (isn't that freaky - as in "church of the republican party"... yikes!))

However - wonder what some of these congregants feel - after being politically prostelityzed for 8 months... in some places folks are getting pretty emboldened and pretty outrageous (as in voting folks out - and others cheering the action)... will these same folks willingly put the tail between the legs and say... "oops, do over, just a mistake..." I don't know. Will they turn on the pastor (as some corners turned on Jeb! when he didn't hold "resolute" and go in and storm the nursing home)?

I would guess there are some more painful times ahead for longtime members of this church - the minister has sowed so much divisiveness, in the name of God, that the damage, hurt and mistrust is likely to continue. I feel bad for this community. Don't get me wrong - things are playing out as they should for this arrogant minister and those who willingly followed him - but that doesn't make the pain left in the wake any less.

If you talk to any of the ousted members - please let them know that a whole lot of folks are rooting for them, and are mourning/greiving for them (in the sense of the loss of a long time church home and community).

[Joey Liberal]

9. E-Mail Waynesville

Here's the e-mail address:[e-mail]

[CO Liberal]

10. Here's The E-Mail I Got From the North Carolina ACLU

Thank you very much for sharing with us your concerns regarding the East Waynesville Baptist Church's recent excommunication of Democrats (and also, apparently, anyone who is married to a Democrat). Our Executive Director, Jennifer Rudinger, was contacted about this matter on Thursday, May 5th, before the story broke in the press, and we very much share your alarm at this blatant intermingling of religion and politics and what appears to be a violation of the Internal Revenue Code.

The ACLU of North Carolina is monitoring this situation very closely, but at this time, we do not feel that our direct intervention is the wisest course of action. The IRS is aware of what has happened at this church, and a representative has commented to the Asheville Citizen-Times that in general, partisan politicking could jeopardize a church's tax-exempt status. In addition, there is a great political outcry against these actions in the Waynesville community, and many members have left the church in protest.

Since this case may resolve itself appropriately through the political channels and possible IRS action, we have decided that the ACLU of North Carolina should exercise patience and allow the good people of Waynesville the opportunity to take whatever action they feel is necessary to put a stop to these practices. Charging in under the mantle of the ACLU right now and filing a lawsuit might make a martyr of Pastor Chandler and divert the attention of decision-makers in this community away from finding ways to solve this problem on their own.

Rest assured, we are watching this closely. Thank you very much for contacting the ACLU of North Carolina and for your vigilance in defense of civil liberties.

Jennifer Coleman
Office Manager
ACLU of North Carolina
P.O. Box 28004
Raleigh, NC 27611

[DesEtoiles]

13. got the same response-glad to see they are monitoring the situation

[gizmo1979]

11. How would he find out who

you voted for?

[leftchick]

12. I saw your sign on CBS and ABC news!

It was fleeting but I knew it was you!

:yourock:

[struggle4progress]

14. Politics prompt church tax questions

PAUL NOWELL
Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Internal Revenue Service should reconsider the tax-exempt status of a Baptist church where nine members say they were expelled in a political dispute with their pastor, an advocacy group said Monday.

The Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, sent a letter to the IRS in response to reports that the Rev. Chan Chandler led an effort to expel members of East Waynesville Baptist Church in western North Carolina because they did not support President Bush.

"The IRS cannot afford to ignore such blatant disregard for our nation's tax laws, as it sends a signal to others religious leaders that they too can engage in partisan politicking from the pulpit without fear of sanction," Lynn wrote.

Lynn's group released the letter one day before a planned church meeting between Chandler and the members who say they were kicked out. <snip>

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/11604754.htm

Seems to be getting widfe coverage ...

[pie]

15. Like white on rice

[deminks]

16. Politics Prompt Church Tax Questions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Internal Revenue Service should reconsider the tax-exempt status of a Baptist church where nine members say they were expelled in a political dispute with their pastor, an advocacy group said Monday.

The Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, sent a letter to the IRS in response to reports that the Rev. Chan Chandler led an effort to expel members of East Waynesville Baptist Church in western North Carolina because they did not support President Bush.

"The IRS cannot afford to ignore such blatant disregard for our nation's tax laws, as it sends a signal to others religious leaders that they too can engage in partisan politicking from the pulpit without fear of sanction," Lynn wrote.

Congregants have said Chandler endorsed Bush from the pulpit during last year's presidential campaign and announced that anyone who planned to vote for Democratic nominee John Kerry needed to "repent or resign."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050510/ap_on_re_us/church_politics

[PartyPooper]

17. This is news?

:eyes:

[leesa]

19. Yes. Very important news...and I'll bet your disappointed.

[NVMojo]

20. Finally, someone took the first step to getting an answer to this question

[Occulus]

21. news that they're acting on it? Why, sure. n/t

[cyr330]

18. Oh?

But didn't you hear that their preacher/leader (or whatever the fuck one calls him) said that "there was a misunderstanding" and that he never meant to say they couldn't come back to church. . . . We have to take a good man who preaches from the book of Jesus Christ our Lord at his word. I am certain he's telling the truth!

[Daphne08]

22. We need to beat this drum loudly because it is the ONLY

thing that is going to bring some sanity to this situation.

I really do believe that moderate churches and ministers will rise up and protest this alarming "divine guidance" movement in our government if they see the possibility of losing their own tax-exempt status."

Separation of Church and State is critical to our republic and our democratic rights.

Theocracies have been among the worst abusers of human rights throughout history. We don't even need to go partway there!