Pastor Seeks Church Support For Church-State Separation

Americans United reported Friday on the initiative by an Ohio pastor to coordinate church support for separation of church and state. Rev. Eric Williams, senior pastor of Columbus (OH)North Congregational United Church of Christ, is calling for pastors around the country to preach sermons on the importance of church-state separation on Sept. 21. This is one week before Alliance Defense Fund's "Pulpit Freedom Sunday." ADF has called on pastors to preach sermons about candidates on that Sunday, in violation of Internal Revenue Code limits on non-profit organizations. (See prior posting.) Rev. Williams will be holding a press conference tomorrow to announce a joint clergy letter asking the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of Alliance Defense Fund. Williams says: "The promotion of tax fraud, particularly to houses of worship, is not a charitable endeavor."