Below is an excerpt from a post by Steve Jordahl writing at One News Now — but I must bring this sentence to your attention first: “According to pollster George Barna, some 39 million conservative Christians didn’t vote in the 2012 presidential election.”
That is awful.
For much more on this topic, please visit this page of excerpts, videos, and links: “Yes, Churches Can Engage in the Political Struggle to Protect Religious Liberty and Defend Judeo-Christian Morality.”
Here is Steve Jordahl:
Contrary to popular opinion, voter registration and issues-related sermons are both legitimate actions in houses of worship. That’s explained in a short booklet from a Christian legal firm that helps churches understand what they can and can’t do during the election season.
According to pollster George Barna, some 39 million conservative Christians didn’t vote in the 2012 presidential election. Their participation might have changed the outcome, considering President Barack Obama won by only five million votes.
While most churchgoers think it’s inappropriate for pastors to endorse a candidate during a church service, that doesn’t mean sanctuaries must remain a “politics-free zone.” Pacific Justice Institute, based in Sacramento, California, is putting out a free booklet that details what a church can and cannot do of a political nature during this election – and according to PJI president Brad Dacus, it starts with connecting with those voters.
“Churches can register voters. This is the most important thing that churches can do and should do,” he tells OneNewsNow.
“They can have a table in front of their church; or for that matter, they can hand out voter registrations to everyone in the congregation who doesn’t have one and have the ushers come and pick them up after they’re filled out.”
The booklet – “The Church and Politics: What Ministers and Churches Can Do to Affect Public Policy with Christian Principles” – also explains that churches can host candidate forums and have candidates speak at their services, provided every candidate for the same office is invited.
Read more: One News Now
Image credit: Alliance Defending Freedom.
