A change in American legal policy is being seen as an important turning point in the ability of churches to participate in the political process.
The change applies to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which has reversed a longstanding ban on churches endorsing political candidates. Henceforth, thanks to a new ruling from July of 2025, churches and religious figures will be allowed to make such endorsements in certain circumstances, without losing their tax-exempt status.
The change was instituted as part of a lawsuit settlement, and treats communications from a house of worship to its congregation as private discussions rather than political activity.
The original prohibition of political activity for tax-exempt organizations (known as 501(c)(3) organizations) dates only from 1954, and was the result of the “Johnson Amendment,” named for then-Senator (and later U.S. President) Lyndon B. Johnson. Since U.S. churches shared this tax-exempt status, the prohibition was considered to apply to them.
But while the Johnson Amendment remains on the books, it will now be interpreted differently, allowing for more political engagement on the part of churches and religious figures.
In particular, the new policy clears the way for pastors to voice support for candidates from the pulpit in sermons, or through internal bulletins, e-mails, or announcements during worship services, without fearing enforcement of IRS penalties or the outright loss of tax-exempt status.
Under the new interpretation, the IRS will regard these communications as similar to a “family discussion concerning candidates.”
Repealing or neutralizing the strictures of the Johnson Amendment was a campaign promise of current President Donald J. Trump, who hailed the recent shift in interpretation as a victory for religious organizations, pastors, and their First Amendment rights.
The new policy does not extend to secular 501(c)(3) organizations. Nevertheless, even for religious organizations, the IRS statement is not an unlimited license to pursue political activity. Under the new interpretation, churches still may not use tax-exempt funds to contribute to political campaigns; and any political endorsements must occur through traditional internal communication channels.
Naturally, the change in policy has its critics, who express unease over overturning what they had regarded as a 70-year-old settled question.
However, the new policy is also being applauded as a return to a more natural, less contentious understanding of political discourse that prevailed from the founding of the United States.
And since America is often the pioneer in shaping the legal norms of other nations, it’s likely that other western countries may come to adopt a more tolerant, and even welcoming approach to religious figures and institutions weighing in on internal political affairs.
Such developments may even speak to the recent political situation in Armenia, where clergymen have been arrested and imprisoned for voicing personal opinions on national political questions.
Regardless of the outcome of those cases, it seems that the American legal environment is rejecting a restricted, antagonistic view of religious political engagement, and advancing towards a more encouraging approach.
Click the following links to read more about the policy, and its practical implications for churches.