News from the Hill February 27, 2008 | back to index
An open letter of concern to the Andover Newton community
On February 20th, the Internal Revenue Service notified the United Church of Christ’s national offices in Cleveland, Ohio, that the IRS opened an investigation into U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s address at the UCC’s 2007 General Synod saying the church engaging in “political activities.”
The IRS letter (attached) said it was initiating a church tax inquiry “because reasonable belief exists that the United Church of Christ has engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status.” The IRS fails to note that Mr. Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ who was speaking to a gathering of his own faith tradition, that he was invited to do so prior to his announcement to run for President, and that the UCC paid careful attention to the standards that were followed in Obama’s appearance.
As we are a covenanted seminary of the United Church of Christ and as we were active participants in the General Synod in Hartford, CT, we will be formally protesting this harassment of the UCC and, in effect, all churches and church bodies.
In recent years the IRS has launched an unrestrained assault on churches and religious leaders that has repeatedly threatened our constitutional guarantees of the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. This action is the latest in a sad chapter of American history that has seen our rights and freedoms regularly eroded and abused. In the name of preserving our freedom and security our government robs us of those rights. These actions have only served to transform us into a nation whose defining motivations are fear and its dangerous offspring - suspicion. The City set on a Hill is being abandoned. Daily our beacon dims.
As people of faith we believe that we have a prophetic obligation and a moral right to engage the world around us in dialogue, debate and witness. A faith that is cut off from the world and the critical issues of its time is a faith that is doomed to irrelevance and forsakes its calling to justice and righteousness.
On behalf of our entire community I applaud Rev. John Thomas and the United Church of Christ for their unwavering witness and refusal to be intimidated by the IRS. With equal passion we condemn this agency of the government for its dangerous bullying of the UCC and its abuse of some of the most cherished rights we have as American citizens.
I call upon the Andover Newton community to join me in this protest. In coming days we will communicate with all of you in regard to ways in which we may find a common voice to speak to this challenge.
Nick Carter
President
Read the IRS letter to the UCC
Read more online about the IRS investigation in United Church News