Following Our Voice

Perhaps you have already heard. The United States Internal Revenue Service is investigating All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena, California.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the IRS targeted All Saints because it is stepping up its probe of allegedly improper campaigning by churches. All Saints has historically been involved in social activism, so it was a surprise that an antiwar sermon delivered by its former rector should trigger such a response. Our tax code bars nonprofits from endorsing or campaigning against candidates in an election. This includes churches. Although no candidate was endorsed in the aforementioned sermon, the IRS is treating the matter as if All Saints had publicly supported a particular candidate.

Facing a potential loss of their nonprofit status has ramifications for All Saints, as well as the understanding of how we are to live our faith in churches across this country. All Saints must decide if they will comply by turning over all documentation related to the sermon in question. If they choose not to, the case could be turned over to the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, USA, stated, "I'm outraged. Preachers ought to have the liberty to speak truth to power. There is a lot more to be done about this, and it may include some actions of nonviolent civil disobedience. Since 9/11, the IRS, like the FBI, has been moving back to the 1950's and 1960's when a great deal of such activity was propagated against church leaders like Martin Luther King," said Rev. Edgar.

If you aren't sitting up in your chair at this point, you should be because timing certainly is everything. The midterm elections are weeks away, and since President Bush did no achieve a landslide victory from his reelection campaign, threatening the voices calling people to think before they vote more of Bush's policies in through senators and representatives who support him, must seem like an effective strategy. The IRS holds great power in our country, much more than it should. Not only would this investigation, also reportedly being waged against numerous other congregations, attempt to silence the prophetic voices from our nation's pulpits, but it would seek to close houses of worship permanently. Keeping most churches running is a pray as you go venture. Taking away tax exempt status, or simply the threat of that being held over a congregation's head, will make many, many preachers think twice before quoting Jesus or expounding on his message in ways that clearly inflamed a few other Pharisees. They will feel, and potentially will be, forced to choose: Will it be faith they will live or the fear of financial reprisal on both their personal and vocational lives? And, if their church is choosing faith, do they and their people have enough money to fight the legal battle against their own government for their very right to exist and worship?

These are the times, the moments, that call us to look at what we believe and how we will choose. We may not personally be opening a letter from the IRS. We may not be sitting in the pew of a parish about to realize the literal cost the government is putting on discipleship. But if we believe that God called us into being as a community as the body of Christ, then we are as much a part of the scenario being played out at All Saints Church as its rector and parishioners . They are a part of us and we are a part of them by virtue of Who lives among us and gives us life.

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)." The people of All Saints Church have heard God's voice over the years, and have shared what they have heard with great consistency. The sermon that attracted the IRS' attention was delivered in the same church that heard sermons that opposed the Vietnam War and sermons that supported women clergy and gays and lesbians in the church. Its rector spoke out against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is the congregation which will determine whether they will comply with the IRS or face what comes next. Having heard God's voice all these years is a reminder that this is a two-way conversation initiated by God, who is known for sticking around when the going gets tough. God speaks, and if we have been listening, we know the voice we must follow.

Cory L. KempCatholic Affiliate Webmaster Affiliate
Search Engine Optimization Specalist
Keyword Search Research
Seo And W3c
Computer Search Engines
Search Engine Optimization And Seo
Engine Ink Optimization Search Seo
Make Money Lei
Howm Stay At Home Moms Make Legitimate Money
Make Money Online With All New Affiliate Program
Blogging In The Workplace
Win Free Money
Adsense In Blogger
Internet Marketing Strategy Using Web Metrics To Improve
Make Money On The Internet 0a
Seo Web Hosting
Advertising Business Internet Marketing Online
How Search Engines Work
Keyword Research Manhattan
Internet Marketing Strategy North Olmsted
Real Estate Internet Marketing
Learn To Make Money
Work At Home Based Business Entrepreneur
Optical Domains And Internet Search Engine Pay Per Click
Make Money On The Internet Make
Search Engine Optimization Expert
Free Seo Tool
Web Site Ranking And Seo Search Engine Optimization Services
Make Money Selling How To Books Cd27s Dvds At Home
Blogger Hacks
Google Adsense Alternative
Google Adsense Test
Webmaster Design Course
Marketing Information Adsense Adwords Google
Home Theater Ebooks
Learn Make Money More Online
Money Make Fast Easily
Design Graphic Marketing Site Web
Clickbank Php Script
Search Engine Optimization And Marketing
Search Engine Submission Seo Company Mammothconglo
Seo Software Seoelite Seoelite Trial Seoelite Tria
Business Opportunity Affiliate Program
Adsense Area Bay Forum Google Gutner Michael Squirrelmail
Deep Web Search Engines
Blogging About Mrsa
Free Money Trial Bingo Game
Make Money Online For Free
Ways To Make Money Online For College
Great Ways To Make Money
How To Earn Fast Money
Webmaster Extended Warranty Indian
Marketing Mlm Network Software
Map Search Engines
Seo Software Search Engine Optimization Tool Searc
Online Fast Make Money Teen Ways
Business Opportunities Internet Network Marketing
Internet Marketing Seo Bangladesh
Free Money To Pay Off Student Loans
Make Quick Money
Digital Products
Make Money Now
Online Business Degree
Acn Network Marketing Mlm Leads
Affiliate Consolidation Debt Loan Program
Ways To Make Money Money Making Ideas Earn Income Work
Network Marketing Business
Search Engine Optimization Houston
Free Blogging Traffic Blogs Free Web Site Building A Blog
Best Work At Home
Abilene Web Site Marketing
Home Based Small Business Work At Home Internet Jo
Seo For Google Internet Marketing
Click Management Pay Per Software Web Site Search
Web Search Engine Optimization
Business Canada Marketing Network Small
Famous Advertising Slogans
Seo Search Engine Marketing San Marino
How To Make Money While Online
Online Marketing Business
Affiliate Internet Marketing Program
Make Money On The Internet No Start Up Costs
Advertising Agency Denver
Designing Blogger Templates
At Home Work
Make Money From Home On The Internet Credit
All The Best Search Engines Piled Into One
Clickbank Hop Net Odysseus Surveysc
Web Site Marketing Strategies
Free Easy Ways To Make Money
Home Business Work At Home
Business Internet Internet Marketing Resource Small
Newest Network Marketing Business
Alot Fast Free Make Money
What Is A Political Blogger Business To Business Web Site
Products To Promote Affiliate Clickbank
Pay Per Click Tracking Software
Make Money With Adsense Google Adwords Xtsafelistcom Google
Clickbank Paid Surveys
Paid Cash Earn Online Surveys Money