From Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria to wildfires raging in at least six western states, the resources of our churches and community nonprofits have been stretched thin across the country. While Rep. Kevin Brady and others in the Texas delegation have done much to support our immediate recovery effort, the current tax bill threatens our long-term vitality by creating an exception in the tax code that could turn churches, and the entire charitable sector, into conduits for partisan campaigning.
The so-called “Johnson Amendment” has worked more for than 60 years to ensure that our charitable sector remains nonpartisan, allowing churches and other organizations to focus on their missions to improve the common good.
It’s been especially helpful for churches, including ours, as we have sought to live out the Gospel among our neighbors.
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Steve Wells is pastor of South Main Baptist Church in Houston, Barkley Thompson is dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Tommy Williams is senior pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston.
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