An Important & Time Sensitive Communication from the President

February 6, 2012

Greetings My Brother in the name of Christ our Savior,

 Polling has shown that fewer than 50% of self-identified Christians are registered to vote, and only half of those who are registered actually vote on Election Day. If the church is to be a political force, if we expect our issues to be addressed in the public arena, then we must turn out in force when the polls are open, because it is impossible to vote if our members are not registered voters.

            Voter suppression is apparent—a strategy that is being used to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing people from exercising their right to vote.   Voter suppression attempts to reduce the number of voters who might vote against or for a candidate or proposition.   The tactics of voter suppression can range from minor "dirty tricks" that make voting inconvenient, up to blatantly illegal activities that physically intimidate prospective voters to prevent them from casting ballots.

             During the election season we as pastors must educate our memberships on the positions of the candidates who are running for office, as well as the policies that will affect our communities and neighborhoods.  For those Churches who have a non-profit status,  the question becomes, is it permissible under the Internal Revenue Code for the church to participate in voters registration without endangering or jeopardizing the church’s 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status. 

 The National Capital Baptist Convention of Washington, DC & Vicinity, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Welton Fields, Jr., will be holding a seminar on February 25, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Unity Baptist Church, located at 2706 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20199 to discuss the guidelines that will aid our churches and pastors in determining whether a church can distribute voter information, indorse a certain candidate; register people to vote without the risk of losing its 501(c)(3) status.   

We have partnered with the NAACP, and other grassroots organizations, to make sure that we are on solid ground, as they have consented to provide guidance and support; therefore we are asking that each church in the Convention send a representative to this very vital seminar.  Please send the name of the representative from your church to unity.admin@comcast.net no later than February 17, 2012.  Thanks for your support in this effort.

Rev. Dr. Welton Fields, Jr.

National Capital Baptist Convention of Washington, DC & Vicinity
President

Rev. Dr. Charles W. Dockett
General Secretary

Rev. Charles W. McNeill, Jr.
3rd Vice President & Chair of Social Action
 

 

Back