2010 Third Quarter Building Bridges Pastor/Leader Forum

Featuring:

Saleim Kahleh

President, S K Ministries, Houston

Staff, Houston Baptist University

Topic:

“Islam: Threat, Opportunity or Both?”

11:30 a.m.—Registration    Noon—1:00 p.m.  Luncheon Program 

Houston’s First Baptist Church (7401 Katy Freeway, Houston)

Complimentary for Pastors and spouses   *   $35 for non-pastors

RSVP by Wednesday Sept. 8 via phone to 832-688-9166, email to info@uspastorcouncil.org or fax to 832-688-8484

Christian Citizenship 101:

Maximizing Your church’s voter turnout

Vital information for a crucial election!

·        The truth about churches’ rights as non-profit corporations

·        Understand the Biblical basis for voting

·        Enlisting your pastor’s leadership

·        Launching a ministry vs. GOTV

·        Increasing your church’s Citizenship Quotient

Harris County:  Three dates - Three locations

NORTH - Monday, Sept. 13

Champion Forest Baptist Church

15555 Stuebner Airline Rd

SOUTH - Tuesday, Sept. 14

Sagemont Church

11300 S. Sam Houston Pkwy E. (Great Room)

CENTRAL - Monday, Sept. 20

Christ Evangelical Presbyterian

8300 Katy Freeway

7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

To register or more information call HAPC at 832-688-9166, email us at info@uspastorcouncil.org or go to www.faithvotes.org

In 1954, the U.S. Congress amended (without debate or analysis) Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3) to restrict the speech of non-profit tax exempt entities, including churches. Before the amendment was passed, there were no restrictions on what churches could or couldn’t do with regard to speech about government and voting, excepting only a 1934 law preventing non-profits from using a substantial part of their resources to lobby for legislation.

The 1954 amendment, offered by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, stated that non-profit taxexempt entities could not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.”

Since the amendment passed, the IRS has steadfastly maintained that any speech by churches about candidates for government office, including sermons from the pulpit, can result in loss of tax exemption. Historically, churches had frequently and fervently spoken for and against candidates for government office. Such sermons date from the founding of America, including...