Churches and Political Activity

As we get closer to Election Day, we have received some questions about permitted political activity for churches. We invite you to review the ELCA’s resources on Being a Public Church and Political Activity and Tax Status.

Based on this guidance from the ELCA, congregations cannot support or endorse candidates for office, but can do issue advocacy and neutral political activity (non-partisan registration drives, being a polling place, etc.). Pastors and other church employees can endorse or support candidates, but only if it is clear that they are acting in their personal capacity and not in their capacity as a leader or employee of the congregation (pastor cannot endorse from the pulpit, for example).