Ministers' Housing Allowance

[Salty]

good old fashioned sarcasm at its best

Thank you, my good friend!

 

[Wesley Briggman]

Do you even know the reason for tax exemptions for churches and Pastors?

Enlighten me. Take your best shot.

 

[atpollard]

Wow, I didnt know that - can you share with us a valid link confirming that!

Nope. The question mark at the end of my post was intended to indicate that it was personal speculation rather than a statement of fact (which would have ended in a period or exclamation point, like your post.)

 

[Reynolds]

Do you even know the reason for tax exemptions for churches and Pastors?

The reason for Churches and Pastors should be different. The reason Churches are not taxed is the COTUS. I think its a verrrrrrrrryyyyyy long stretch to apply the logic to pastors.

 

[Salty]

Nope. The question mark at the end of my post was intended to indicate that it was personal speculation rather than a statement of fact (which would have ended in a period or exclamation point, like your post.)

So what you are saying is that your answer was a guessmation - with no basis of fact.

 

[atpollard]

So what you are saying is that your answer was a guessmation - with no basis of fact.

"Guessmation" ... Yes.
"No basis of fact" ... Not entirely:

The number of organizations engaged in religious lobbying or religion-related advocacy in Washington, D.C., has increased roughly fivefold in the past four decades, from fewer than 40 in 1970 to more than 200 today. These groups collectively employ at least 1,000 people in the greater Washington area and spend at least $350 million a year on efforts to influence national public policy. As a whole, religious advocacy organizations work on about 300 policy issues. For most of the past century, religious advocacy groups in Washington focused mainly on domestic affairs. Today, however, roughly as many groups work only on international issues as work only on domestic issues, and nearly two-thirds of the groups work on both. These are among the key findings of a new study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life that examines a total of 216 religion-related advocacy groups operating in the nation’s capital.
- Lobbying for the Faithful [Pew Research Center] 2012

1,000 people employed in Washington, DC by Religious organizations to spend $350 million per year to influence public policy may have some impact on Pastors paying Taxes.

 

[Revmitchell]

The reason for Churches and Pastors should be different. The reason Churches are not taxed is the COTUS. I think its a verrrrrrrrryyyyyy long stretch to apply the logic to pastors.

Nope try again

 

[atpollard]

Nope try again

Focus on the Family:

"Making churches and other religious organizations tax exempt is the cleanest way to avoid government entanglement with (and exercising undue influence over) religion, which is prohibited by the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. As Chief Justice John Marshall stated back in 1819, "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Keeping churches tax exempt removes the temptation from government to interfere with the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court held that property tax exemptions for churches were in keeping with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (Walz v. Tax Commission)"​

 

[Reynolds]

Nope try again

It might not be your reason, but its THE reason.

 

[Revmitchell]

Focus on the Family:

"Making churches and other religious organizations tax exempt is the cleanest way to avoid government entanglement with (and exercising undue influence over) religion, which is prohibited by the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. As Chief Justice John Marshall stated back in 1819, "the power to tax involves the power to destroy." Keeping churches tax exempt removes the temptation from government to interfere with the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment. In 1970, the U.S. Supreme Court held that property tax exemptions for churches were in keeping with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. (Walz v. Tax Commission)"​

That is an opinion about it but not the reason for it.

 

[Revmitchell]

Churches are tax exempt for two reasons:

1. Because the income they receive is from donations.
2. Because it is assumed that the church serves its community.

The focus on the family article posted already hits on this but never makes avoiding entanglement with government the reason but simply a benefit.

 

[Salty]

Churches are tax exempt for two reasons:

1. Because the income they receive is from donations.
2. Because it is assumed that the church serves its community.

The focus on the family article posted already hits on this but never makes avoiding entanglement with government the reason but simply a benefit.

and we could possibly add that Churches are not in the profit making business

 

[atpollard]

"Congress has enacted special tax laws that apply to churches, religious organizations and ministers in recognition of their unique status in American society and of their rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Churches and religious organizations are generally exempt from income tax and receive other favorable treatment under the tax law . . ."
.- The IRS Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations

 

[Revmitchell]

sigh, why are the rights given in the first place? Why was this placed in the constitution? Not sure why that needs explaining.

 

[atpollard]

and we could possibly add that Churches are not in the profit making business

Probably true of Baptist Churches (and most churches) in general, but could the same really be said of the Church of Scientology or the World Changers Church International (Creflo Dollar) or Lakewood Church (Joel Osteen).

 

[atpollard]

sigh, why are the rights given in the first place? Why was this placed in the constitution? Not sure why that needs explaining.

Me neither ... it seems completely irrelevent to "Ministers' Housing Allowance".

 

[Revmitchell]

Me neither ... it seems completely irrelevent to "Ministers' Housing Allowance".

Its not

 

[Reynolds]

Churches are tax exempt for two reasons:

1. Because the income they receive is from donations.
2. Because it is assumed that the church serves its community.

The focus on the family article posted already hits on this but never makes avoiding entanglement with government the reason but simply a benefit.

They are and have been exempt because "Congress shall make now law regarding the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

 

[Salty]

They are and have been exempt because "Congress shall make now law regarding the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Playing "Devils advocate" - how is not being tax exempt -prohibiting the free exercise of religion?

 

[Revmitchell]

They are and have been exempt because "Congress shall make now law regarding the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Has nothing to do with churches paying taxes.