Did you know around 40 million Christians might not even be registered to vote? This week, Faith Wins wants to challenge you to TAKE ACTION by hosting a voter registration drive in your church on Sunday.
All you have to do is look at the events of last week to know that ELECTIONS MATTER. If people of faith don’t step up to the plate and get involved…then who will?
Faith Wins has compiled many wonderful resources for pastors and the congregation to use in voter registration. Every Christian in every church in America needs to be registered to vote – and then needs to SHOW UP and vote Biblical values on Election Day.
We have compiled a webpage dedicated to voter resource information including how to register, where to vote, how to conduct a voter registration drive, churches do’s and don’ts, voter guides, and more!
There is a lot of misinformation about what churches are allowed to do in the political arena – this is not an accident. Many groups and organizations do not want people of faith showing up on Election Day so they scare pastors and staff with tricks. Don’t let them intimidate you. Be armed with the facts and make an impact!
A Church Can:
- Conduct non-partisan voter registration drives
- Conduct non-partisan voter identification drives
- Conduct “get-out-the-vote” drives, encouraging members to vote
- Conduct petition drives regarding legislation or other issues
- Distribute non-partisan voter education information
- Educate church members on legislative and political matters
- Discuss doctrine as it applies to politics, legislative matters or candidate positions
- Introduce political candidates and allow them to address the congregation
- Host candidate forums where all candidates are invited and allowed to speak
- Lobby on behalf of specific legislation
- Support or oppose political appointments (such as judges or cabinet officials)
- Make expenditures on behalf of referendums
- Rent church member contact lists to favored lobbying groups
- Pastors may endorse candidates as individuals, but not on behalf of a church, (if title and church name are used, include a “title and affiliation for identification purposes only” disclaimer)
A Church Cannot:
- Endorse or campaign for candidates for elected office in the name of the church
- Contribute money or make “in kind” contributions, (such as resources or services), to a candidate, political party or political action committee
- Distribute materials that endorse a particular candidate or political party
- Allow candidates to solicit funds from the congregation (from the pulpit)
- Create a church political committee that would do any of the above
Now that you know the truth, what’s stopping you? Each day the news demonstrates that there is an ongoing battle over religious liberties and the ability to practice our faith in our daily lives. The consequences for sitting on the sidelines is far to great!
