Policy for Political Involvement.pdf

Guidelines for Political Involvement at Bethlehem Baptist Church

Written by the Pastoral Staff on November 17, 2009
Adopted by the Elders on February 9, 2010
Revised by the Pastoral Staff on January 13, 2012
Approved by the Elders on January 24, 2012

Rationale: The purpose of this document is to put forward guidelines on our political involvement in order to clarify expectations and provide direction for the staff and the congregation. We will joyfully follow these guidelines because we eagerly desire the supremacy of Christ, as the one-true King over all nations, to be whole-heartedly embraced in the political lives of our congregation and in the political arena at large.

We believe there is a kind of politicizing of the church that actually weakens our ability to be prophetically effective in the political realm. Paradoxically, being less political and more morally and prophetically forceful as an institution can be more politically transforming in the long run.

We believe that individual Christians, who are strengthened in their God-centered worldview by a healthy, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated local church, can and should act on their consciences in the full range of civic life. This is one way the people of God become the salt and light that makes the greatest difference in the world.
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Therefore, following guidelines are proposed for Bethlehem Baptist Church:

1. We will encourage our people to be engaged in and aware of the political arena, acknowledging the vital need for redemptive, gospel-proclaiming work in that sphere of influence by encouraging them to vote, be educated on the issues at hand, contact their representatives, run for office, and participate in other public engagements, as the Lord leads.
2. We will prophetically speak against the moral evils that the Bible clearly denounces and for moral virtues that the Bible supports whether or not they are political issues.
3. We will, when it seems appropriate, provide non-partisan information regarding such moral issues and information regarding the election process, and other information that is consistent with these guidelines.
4. The correlation between what is morally wrong and what should be illegal is not simple; some immoral acts should not be legally proscribed (i.e. swearing, gossiping, coveting). Therefore, we generally will not advocate for specific legislation or candidates, though our advocacy of a clear moral issue may carry implications for legislation and candidates.
5. We are thankful that under God’s providence churches enjoy a tax-exempt status in our land. But we repudiate the fearful financial expediency of acting merely to preserve our tax-exempt status by downplaying truth or being unfaithful to the Word of God. We realize the day may come when to take a biblical stand may not only jeopardize our tax-exempt status but our legal existence. In such a case, we will stand with God’s Word.
6. We do not permit the distribution of materials within or outside the church facilities before, during, or after church activities without approval from the Executive Pastor or his designated representative.
7. We will seek to preserve the prophetic integrity of our public moral positions by not aligning them with the church’s public advocacy of legislation and candidates who agree with these positions. Public policy and electoral politics are too complex for simple alignments; there is never a simple straight line from moral conviction to laws or candidates.
8. We understand that issues and situations may arise where the application of these principles is unclear. If members or groups in the church need help in dealing with a specific issue or situation they may seek the advice of the Executive Pastor or Pastoral Staff in personal conversation or by written explanation of the issue.