As non-profit organizations, churches and other religious groups must ensure that their political activity does not run afoul of standards established by the Internal Revenue Service. What’s permitted and what’s not? A brief overview follows.

DO

Churches and other religious groups may get involved in politics in several ways, including:

• Address moral/political issues. Churches may speak out on political issues such as abortion, the death penalty, environmentalism, poverty, etc. They may for example, pass resolutions taking either a pro or con stand and communicate those views to politicians and the public.
  
  
• Voter registration drives. Religious groups may register people to vote and encourage citizens to go to the polls on Election Day, provided that no bias for particular candidates or political parties is evident.
  
  
• Non-partisan candidate forums/debates. Forums in which all contenders for public office are invited to attend and each must be given an equal opportunity to present his or her views. In addition, the questions must be non-partisan in nature and cover a broad range of issues.
  
  
• Candidate questionnaires. Religious groups may use questionnaires to determine where candidates stand on issues. The questionnaires should cover a broad range of issues and must be sent to all candidates. Care must be taken to make certain that the information gathered is presented to the public in an unbiased fashion.

DON’T

Churches and religious groups should avoid some political activity, especially anything that has partisan overtones, including:

• Endorsing/opposing candidates. Religious groups may not issue statements advising congregants or the public at large to vote for or against specific candidates or political parties.