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Pastor’s political activity scrutinized
Steve Smothermon
The IRS prohibits nonprofits from participating in politics. Over the weekend, the Albuquerque Journal explored one megachurch pastor’s involvement in politics in that context.
The bottom line from Steve Smothermon, pastor at the nearly 20,000-member Legacy Church in Albuquerque: “The church is one thing, and I’m another thing.”
The pastor is heavily involved in politics. Check out this link to a web page for the radio program New Mexico News and Views in which Smothermon called for the resignations of Attorney General Gary King and then-Albuquerque Public Safety Director Darren White.
The Journal went in-depth into Smothermon’s disputes with Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry and Albuquerque School Board Member Kathy Korte, and his support for politicians including former Albuquerque City Council candidate Greg Payne.
And though Smothermon said his support is different from the church’s, the Journal documented Smothermon talking with his congregation about politicians, including slamming Berry as someone who “won’t stand up for anything” and praising Payne as someone who “espouses our beliefs.”
Smothermon was quoted as saying he doesn’t seek out candidates. They come to him.
From the newspaper:
“In a Journal interview, Smothermon stressed that he is a pastor, not a politician, and that candidates approach him, not the other way around. He said he has ‘never solicited one candidate’ to show up at Legacy.
“Instead, ‘candidates constantly call me,’ he said.
“He will introduce them to the church, Democrats and Republicans alike. He reads a few bullet points, and the candidates don’t get to speak during the service. They can set up a table outside where churchgoers can question them.”
You can read the Journal’s in-depth article on Smothermon’s political involvement here, and a sidebar about Korte’s experience with Legacy Church here.
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The religious right has taken over the Tea Party backed by billionaires looking to their own interests.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XubpOWD1o9A
I wouldn’t attend a church where the pastor was trying to shove his political agenda down my throat. In retrospect, I really respect those religious leaders and teachers, etc. in a position of undue influence who went out of their way to not do what this guy appears to be doing. Very sad for the congragation, although they probably don’t question.
There is nothing in our laws of election or any other place, including the Constitution that precludes an individual from becoming involved in politics, whether a pastor or a lay person, as long as they do not use a public organization to espouse their beliefs or choices to the congregation of that organization. They can use the building with non-partisan introductions, but cannot allow that candidate to espouse his leanings in any way.
We should all remember that the separation of church and state states that the government shall not set up a religion of its own, nor enter into a religious practice. It has long been the practice to reverse this by saying no church shall through its offices enter into politics. We can twist and change it any way we like but keep in mind that to not allow a person (even a pastor) to voice his opinions when not behind a pulpit is to take away his freedom of speech. That is definitely against the Constitution.
Ramirez, I’m not Catholic and I doubt that he’d care. I really think that we should just amend the Constitution and allow these too-big churches to be taxed. I would not want to see the smaller ones have to pay property and income tax though. I attended a Friends meeting in West Lafayette, In for several years when I was in graduate school in Purdue, and they met in a house that had been willed to them. We had less than 20 regulars at the meetings, and very little money.
I do recall that when I was running for congress in 1992, one of the ‘big’ churches left a batch of leaflets at our front door on the Sunday before the election, rather specifically attacking pro-choice candidates. If I’d been a well-funded candidate, I could have called a press conference, blasted the airways with ads, etc, but of course I didn’t have the resources needed.
Ramirez,
I gave no opinion in this article on Smothermon’s actions. I simply reported on what the Journal had reported, and linked to their articles.
Second, there’s a huge difference under the law between backing a candidate in a political race and getting involved in a campaign for or against an issue. Issue advocacy is something nonprofits can legally do, while endorsing candidates is not.
Heath, then you better do your next story on Archbishop Sheehan. I am a Catholic, but for the first time, I am no longer giving money to the church. Sheehan has made it a priority to get involved in the driver licenses for illegal immigrants game, and to me, this is certainly mixing politics with religion. Many Republican candidates have asked the Archdiocese for help in combating the “abortion issue,” BUT they have refused stating the possibility of having their status revoked for political activity.
Look into this Heath. Tell me this is different than Smotherman’s issues you have pointed out.
Wedum – why don’t you let Sheehan know how you feel about religion mixing with politics; and condemn him in the same fashion?
I think it is the 12th commandment….Politics and Religion..not a good mix there. If they want to push politics follow the suggestion of Justice P. If not stick to theology…
There’s another Somtherman (Troy) preaching in Roswell. He and the people he supports try to skirt around the political restrictions by saying “vote your values.” I saw Rod Adair, Candy Spence Ezzell, Nora Espinoza and some other politicians there for a lecture at the church on a Wednesday night during the 2008 election season. They were selling the invited speaker’s books outside in the lobby. Jesus overthrowing the tables of the moneychangers comes to mind (MT 21:12).
That sounded like an invitation to me.
Every Democratic candidate needs to have an operative go to that church and set up a table outside of the door. Every Democratic candidate needs to high tail it over there, hand the preacher your bullet points and smile in the front row pew. There should appear a Democratic political representative every Sunday at that church until elections without relent. I am deadly serious.
I really think the church congregations should renounce their 501 status, get the government off of their back and get active in politics.
When he is preaching on the radio, i have no problem. But when he stands up in front of his sheep and tells them how he voted or unofficially endorses someone who is running for office from the pulpit then I have a problem.
My favorite part of this article was the email sent to Ms. Korte from a church email account (member@legacychurch.com) that told her she would be face a higher judge because she was not supporting the church views.
This is the same church that sparked legislation from the Bernalillo County Commission regarding where county events could be held. In case you dont remember, Dan House the Bernco Sheriff and a member of legacy church wanted to hold the Bernco Sheriff department cadet graduation ceremony at this church.