The Oregon Tea Party sent out an e-mail today that listed where a series of Tea Party events will be held over the next month. My attention was immediately drawn to two events scheduled to be held in Oregon churches - one for a candidate recruitment drive. Churches, like all non-profits, are forbidden from engaging in partisan political activity.
I contacted both churches. One was unaware that the Oregon Tea Party and their partner, Americans for Prosperity (a GOP-aligned political group), had scheduled an event at their church. They determined that a parishioner had volunteered the church without the knowledge of church staff but once informed of the political nature of the meeting the church immediately informed the Oregon Tea Party the event would be cancelled.
The second church, in Beaverton, knew of the event and initially defended hosting it when I contacted them. This was the meeting being held to recruit candidates. However, within a few hours they appropriately cancelled the event. Churches that engage in partisan political activity run the serious risk of losing their tax exempt status.
Churches can rent space to political groups as long as they make space available to all political parties without regard to platforms. But churches cannot co-sponsor events with political groups which aim to influence candidate elections (churches, again like all non-profits, are allowed to become involved in issue politics i.e. initiative campaigns, etc. and pastors are allowed as individuals - not on behalf of the church - to endorse candidates).
It is troubling that the Oregon Tea Party and Americans for Prosperity are obviously seeking to inappropriately misuse houses of worship for partisan political gain. Cleary, these groups have very little respect for churches if they are willing to put congregations in legal jeopardy.
At the same time, I do believe that the Oregon Tea Party clearly has a right to meet. There are plenty of community centers and businesses where they could legally gather. One of the meetings they announced today will take place at Standard TV and Appliance in Beaverton, a company with a long history of supporting conservative causes. I personally will not shop at a business that shares Tea Party values but I defend the Tea Party's right to freely assemble as long as their meetings are non-violent.
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