Americans United urges IRS to revoke tax exemption of Second Baptist Houston

                                        Vol. IX, No. 5, May 1996

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which the Baptist General Association of Virginia helps finance through the WM-2 giving plan, sent a 19 March letter to the IRS urging them to investigate the Second Baptist Church, Houston, for encouraging political activity by church members. Barry Lynn, AU executive director, wrote that printed materials distributed at the church encouraged individuals to vote for particular candidates.

Ed Young, pastor of Second Baptist and former SBC president, said that AU targetted the 22,000 member church which is noted for its pro-life stance in an effort to gain publicity. Young also stated the church has done nothing wrong.

Jay Sekulow, legal counsel for Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and justice, is helping the church. Sekulow said, "What's happening is Barry Lynn is picking on churches he doesn't like. I know of churches – Episcopal, Methodist, and others – who told people from their pulpits not to vote for David Duke."

Lynn said AU targetted Second Baptist because of materials distributed in the church's visitor center encouraged members to vote for particular candidates.

Judy Craig, Ministry Network director at the church, stated, "We don't in any way endorse candidates. We don't endorse political parties." She said that the paper cited in the AU complaint, which provided instructions on voting for specific precinct candidates, was prepared by an individual member and was "not approved by the church."

Young said individuals place brochures for everything from garage sales to counseling programs on a counter in the visitors center. The counter is cleaned periodically, but the church cannot control every notice displayed, he said.

Doug Elliott, a Houston attorney and church member, said he wrote, printed, and copied the flier at his office, acting entirely on his own. He said the flier was to encourage precinct participation only.

Lynn said, "Absent some terrifically good explanation, I would think a substantial penalty would be imposed." He urged the IRS to "apply appropriate penalties including revocation of the church's tax exempt status."

[Editorial Comment: Note that if your church gives through the BGAV "World Missions 2" plan, some of your donations go to support Americans United in this attack on one of the great SBC churches. To verify this, see the 1995 Virginia Baptist Annual, page 39, and look at the list of line items for WM-2. AU is the last one in the list. Do you know which plan your church contributes to? Some church members have had a hard time finding out. Has your church joined the move from giving through the BGAV to sending your donations to the SBCV? That's a way to be sure your money does not support ultra-liberal causes like AU. (Article based on BP release and article in Baptists Today.) TCP]