With midterms looming and legal pending decisions on endorsing political candidates from the pulpit, religious leaders may be feeling the pressure to speak to their congregants about their civic duties. The Johnson Amendment, passed in 1954, prohibits tax-exempt charitable organizations from endorsing or opposing political opponents without losing their tax-exempt status. Until recently, this included churches, but in 2024, two Texas churches and another religious non-profit sued the IRS over the rule, stating it violated their First Amendment rights. The IRS then changed its rules to permit the endorsement of candidates from the pulpit; however, the settlement was struck down by a district court and is being reviewed by the US Court of Appeals.

Despite the change in rules, a new Lifeway Research survey found that most Protestant pastors have no intention to back or oppose specific candidates from the pulpit. The survey looked at over 1,000 Protestant pastors’ opinions on sharing political endorsements after being informed of the IRS’s decision to permit such endorsements. “Since historically very few Protestant pastors had endorsed candidates from the pulpit, we were interested in whether the IRS ruling last year would change that. Were pastors simply obeying the tax law or was their neutrality in a worship setting their conviction?” asked Lifeway Research Executive Director Scott McConnell. The survey found that 93% of pastors would not be endorsing candidates from the pulpit, while just 5% said they would. Pastors have been consistently opposed to supporting political candidates from the pulpit, with only 1% stating they would in 2016 and 2% in 2024.

“In a government run by representatives elected by the people, elections are a key form of civic involvement for Christians. Pastors teach regularly on topics that can be part of voting decisions such as moral standards, justice and priorities. Yet few church traditions have more than a few percent of pastors planning to endorse specific candidates if it is permitted,” said McConnell. Congregants as well don’t generally support their pastors getting political, although the number has steadily risen. In 2008, 13% found it acceptable for pastors to endorse candidates. By 2024, that number had risen to 29%. McConnell believes that at least for now, pastors will avoid getting political despite the legal questions. “However the legal arguments on the Johnson Amendment are settled, it may have very little impact on candidate endorsements from churches,” he said. “If the IRS ultimately allows candidates to be endorsed in church services, 93% of pastors will not do so. What pastors say from the pulpit has far more to do with their religious convictions than avoiding tax penalties.”