by Bruce Gourley » Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:45 am
Ed and Dave: I have for some time been on record for advocating the elimination of all tax breaks for churches and for eliminating all tax breaks (including housing allowances and social security exceptions) for ministers (I forsook my tax breaks as an ordained minister years ago, and continue to do so). This is the stance of Baptists prior to the 20th century, and I think it is the proper stance. Churches/mosques/etc. need to be able to stand on their own without government favoritism.
I realize this is a highly unpopular position, and do not expect others (Baptist or otherwise) to share my convictions.
Increasingly, municipalities are complaining that local churches are sapping their communities of needed resources by not paying taxes, and I think we will see more attempts to eliminate local tax breaks for houses of worship. It seems to me that churches/mosques/etc. are leeching off their communities (rather than making a positive impact within their communities) by not paying taxes.
In addition, the clergy housing allowance (due to many instances of abuse) is now called into question by the IRS and may well be repealed at some point in the future.
For religious entities in which religious worship does not take place, I advocate continued non-profit treatment on par with other non-profit organizations.
Bruce Gourley
BaptistLife.Com owner