More than 90 percent of Protestant pastors have no plans to endorse candidates in midterms
Despite the many high-profile races across the nation, most Protestant pastors have no plans to support or oppose specific candidates from the pulpit. More than nine in 10 pastors say they will not endorse candidates and just 5 percent say they will, according to a Lifeway Research survey reported by “Beliefnet.”
“In a government run by representatives elected by the people, elections are a key form of civic involvement for Christians,” Executive Director Scott McConnell said. ”Pastors teach regularly on topics that can be part of voting decisions, such as moral standards, justice and priorities. Yet few church traditions have more than a few percent of pastors planning to endorse specific candidates if it is permitted.”
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The Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954, prohibits tax-exempt charitable organizations from endorsing or opposing political opponents without losing their tax-exempt status. Until recently, this included churches, but in 2024, two Texas churches and another religious non-profit sued the IRS over the rule, saying it violated their First Amendment rights. The IRS then changed its rules to permit the endorsement of candidates from the pulpit. However, the settlement was struck down by a district court and is being reviewed by the U.S. Court of Appeals.
“Since historically very few Protestant pastors had endorsed candidates from the pulpit, we were interested in whether the IRS ruling last year would change that,” McConnell said. “Were pastors simply obeying the tax law or was their neutrality in a worship setting their conviction?”
Church members generally don’t support their pastors getting political, although the number has steadily risen. In 2008, 13 percent found it acceptable for pastors to endorse candidates. By 2024, that number had risen to 29 percent. McConnell believes that at least for now, pastors will avoid getting political despite the legal questions.
“However the legal arguments on the Johnson Amendment are settled, it may have very little impact on candidate endorsements from churches,” he said. “If the IRS ultimately allows candidates to be endorsed in church services, 93 percent of pastors will not do so. What pastors say from the pulpit has far more to do with their religious convictions than avoiding tax penalties.”
–Lee Hartman | Metro Voice
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