Posted on 09/16/2004 10:01:57 AM PDT by jebanks
Group pushes evangelical vote Focus on Family begins a national registration drive
By Gwen Florio, Rocky Mountain News September 4, 2004
Concerned that not enough evangelical Christians are voting, Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family is launching a nationwide voter-registration drive this month.
"There is a sense that this is a real pivotal election," said Jim Chapman, president of the Rocky Mountain Family Council, which is coordinating the effort involving hundreds of churches in Colorado. "People of faith need to be in the public square."
Both Chapman and Jim Banks, voter-registration field representative for Focus on the Family, said studies indicate that only half of eligible evangelicals register to vote, and that only half of those people actually go to the polls on Election Day.
Many of those who do vote say their faith influences their choices. According to a July study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, nearly half of white evangelical Protestants, and 60 percent of highly committed evangelicals, say their religious beliefs come into play in the voting booth.
Hence, Focus on the Family's "I Vote Values" campaign.
"We believe we can make a difference in this year's election, simply by registering Christians and, just as importantly, by encouraging them to vote," Banks said.
But the nature of that encouragement is a source of concern both to watchdog groups such as Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and for agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, whose regulations govern electioneering by churches and other tax-exempt groups.
In June, the Bush-Cheney '04 Pennsylvania campaign raised hackles in some quarters with its "Friendly Congregations" plan to enlist 1,600 churches where Bush supporters could meet.
The IRS forbids churches from participating in political campaigns or making campaign contributions or endorsements. Religious leaders may speak on the subject as individuals, though.
For instance, earlier this year, Focus on the Family head James Dobson endorsed former Republican Congressman Bob Schaffer in his unsuccessful U.S. Senate primary campaign against Pete Coors. But Dobson said the endorsement was his own, not on behalf of Focus on the Family.
Similar scenarios are outlined in the "I Vote Values," which includes voter-registration drives every Sunday this month, and - depending on a pastor's inclinations - possibly more.
"Pastors are amazed to learn that they can do much more than they have been led to believe by people who oppose our views," said Banks, who spends three weeks a month teaching pastors around the country how to negotiate the nuances of the IRS rules.
"A pastor can even get up in church on a Sunday and say, 'This is who I'm voting for, and I encourage you to vote for him, too,' " he said.
Not so, said the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, which terms itself a religious liberty watchdog group.
Americans United objected to the Bush-Cheney '04 action in Pennsylvania. The nonpartisan group also has filed complaints when churches appeared to violate IRS regulations on behalf of both Democrats and Republicans.
Lynn said that he could think of only one case in recent years in which a congregation's tax-exempt status was revoked.
Nonetheless, he said, "You cannot have a pulpit endorsement, whether it is related to voter registration or not."
The IRS manual on the subject says that "religious leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official church functions." But it does not appear to specifically address the issue of ministers endorsing candidates during sermons.
The Rev. Don Armstrong, of Grace and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, in Colorado Springs, said that during the primary campaign that ended last month, he mentioned, from the pulpit, two candidates who are members of his congregation.
"People here know who I vote for, but I don't tell them to vote. That (would be) a violation," said Armstrong, who added that "I'm careful how I say it, but I move right up to the edge."
Voter-registration drives - as long as they're nonpartisan - aren't problematic for churches.
Dr. Jerry Nelson, pastor of Southern Gables Church in Littleton, said his congregation restricts its election year activities to registration efforts and, in some years, to candidate forums.
"We're very careful to invite all parties interested," he said.
'I Vote Values'
• Register to vote: Download a registration form at www.ivotevalues.com.
• Registration drive: Focus on the Family offers voter-registration kits on its Web site for $29.95, or call 615-244-2495.
floriog@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2361
Copyright 2004, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
Every church should insert voter reg forms in their bulletins.
Christians will be the key to victory for the President.
It is unfortunate that people like Barry Lynn choose to intimidate instead of encourage people to vote.
Christians will no doubt make the difference in this election.
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