IRS Denies Christian Group Tax Exempt Status, Claims ‘Bible’s Teachings Affiliated’ with GOP
A Christian non for profit organization is now challenging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) after the government agency denied them tax-exempt status.
Christians Engaged claims the IRS informed them that the, “Bible’s teachings are typically affiliated with the Republican Party and candidates.”
The organization denied of non-profit status claims to be an educational and non-partisan organization with goals to, “awaken, motivate, and empower ordinary believers in Jesus Christ to: pray for our nation and our elected officials regularly, vote in every election to impact our culture, and engage our hearts in some forms of political education or activism for the furtherance of our nation.”
The non-profit claims they work to show Christians how to, “civically engage as part of their religious practice” but does not promote specific parties or candidates or earn money for political causes, according to the organization’s appeal letter to the IRS.
Christians Engaged attempted first to become a 501 (c)(3) in 2019.
They received a rejection letter on May 18, 2021, from Stephen A. Martin the Exempt Organizations Director saying the group “engage[s] in prohibited political campaign intervention” and “operate[s] for a substantial non-exempt private purpose and for the private interests of the [Republican] party.”
The IRS alleged that the group didn’t meet requirements for tax exempt status because the Bible and its causes tend to favor the GOP:
Specifically, you educate Christians on what the Bible says in areas where they can be instrumental including the areas of sanctity of life, the definition of marriage, biblical justice, freedom of speech, defense, and borders and immigration, U.S. and Israel relations. The Bible teachings are typically affiliated with the [Republican Party] and candidates. This disqualifies you from exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3).
The First Liberty Institute sent an appeal letter on behalf of Christians Engaged to the IRS on June 16, asserting that Martin’s decision mischaracterizes the nature of the non-profit and violates their First Amendment rights.
“From its religious perspective, Christians Engaged provides nonpartisan religious and civic education, focusing on encouraging and educating Christians to be civically engaged as a part of their religious practice,” the appeal letter stated.
At the moment, Christians Engaged will be forced to wait while the IRS goes through their internal appeal process. If they are denied once again, Christians Engaged could take their case to federal court.