Every election season, the same quiet wrestling match returns to pastors’ minds: a ballot question or a candidate’s platform lands squarely on ground the gospel already speaks to, whether that’s life, marriage, religious liberty, or the family, and the question isn’t just “Can I say something?” but “Am I being faithful if I don’t?” Silence can feel safe. It can also feel like a betrayal of the very people looking to their pastor for moral clarity when politics and faith collide. Too often, that tension gets flattened into fear of an ambiguous IRS rule, leaving faithful leaders silent on the very issues shaping their congregations’ lives.
That’s why Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center is hosting Know Your Rights: Politics from the Pulpit, a free two-part online event on Thursday, August 27, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Whether you’re a pastor, a church leader, or simply an engaged member of your congregation, this event is built to give you both conviction and clarity.
Part one is theological. A respected pastor and theologian will lay out a biblical theology of Christian political engagement, making the case that faithful preaching often can’t avoid the issues pressing on our neighbors, our families, and our communities. This isn’t about turning the pulpit into a campaign platform; it’s about recovering the courage to preach the whole counsel of God, even when it touches on the questions of the day.
Part two is legal. Our Chief Counsel, Sam Whiting, will walk through the actual legal landscape churches operate in: what pastors and churches can and cannot say or do under current law. We’ll bust some of the most common myths about the Johnson Amendment and tax-exempt status (many of which have kept good leaders needlessly quiet), and we’ll offer practical, real-world guardrails so your church can be bold in its witness while staying fully compliant.
Too many churches self-censor based on rumor rather than the actual rules. This event exists to close that gap by replacing anxiety with informed confidence.
Here’s what to expect:
- A grounded biblical framework for why political and cultural engagement is part of faithful ministry, not a distraction from it.
- A clear, practical breakdown of what the law actually permits and doesn’t.
- Straight answers to the tax-exempt status questions that keep leaders up at night. Time to walk away equipped, not intimidated.
This event is free and open to anyone. Pastors, elders, staff, and engaged congregants are all welcome.
Thursday, August 27 | 7:00 to 8:30 PM | Online
Reserve your spot now and leave equipped to lead with both courage and clarity:
