So, this video was taken on September 29, 2016, at what is being billed as a "Pastor Appreciation Forum." A series of unpublicized, closed to the public, events.
Please ignore the small, phallic shadow....someone obviously misunderstood "Johnson amendment."
One notable name in attendance, is a fellow by the name of Richard Nelson. Richard Nelson, used to work for The Family Research Council (FRC), but left to create his own organization known as The Commonwealth Policy Center (CPC.) The CPC bills itself as, "[...] the only conservative grassroots effort in Kentucky committed to promoting conservative policies and influencing elections on behalf of principled conservative candidates."
According to Richard's facebook page, he presented Bevin with a "Friend of Religious Liberty Award."
Notice the screen behind him in the first picture? Well, that is displaying the site http://www.watchmenpastors.org/ which, interestingly enough, links to the afforementioned FRC, where they champion such lovely causes as sexism, homophobia, and transphobia...among other things! So, back to Watchmen Pastors...what do they have to say about politics?
Q. What about the "Separation of Church and State?"
A. This is a misleading argument repeatedly trumpeted by secularists who denounce biblical morality and truth. As you probably know this often repeated mantra appears no where in our founding documents or governing documents. However, let us be clear, no one, especially bible believing Christians are calling for a state church. We do not believe any Church should rule over the State or the State over any Church, they were both created by God to fulfill separate but interrelated purposes. What is really meant by this phrase is a separation of God from government or Christians from the public square. This we unapologetically reject. We believe that since God ordained government (Rom. 13:1), He would want His people to influence it. After all, government is one of the spheres we should impact in our role as "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:13, 16). Active engagement is also a legitimate contemporary application for Christians in America of what the Lord Jesus called for when He commanded: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21).
Q. Are you asking us to get involved in Partisan Politics?
A. Absolutely not. The call to become a Watchman pastor and form a Watchmen network is something with far more eternal significance. A recent poll from the Culture and Media Institute shows that 74% of Americans believe our nation is in moral decline but only 36% believe we should live by God's principles of right and wrong. There is recognition of a problem but an inability to see the solution. We realize that the church must respond with repentance and experience revival if we are to lead a reversal of the moral decline in America . Therefore the Watchmen network is first and foremost a call to prayer. It is second of all a call to actively influence every area of society, including government, as the salt and the light (Matt. 5:13 -16). We must pray for revival and work for public policy that reflects biblical truth and support godly government, but we must not sell our souls to any political party or politician.
So, they want pastors to not only engage in politics, but to influence them, and to work for public policy that reflects their narrow view. They want to impose their religious view on the rest of us, by working as (and helping elect) bible-thumping politicians. Hmmm, it's weird, imposing their version of religion on everyone else? Reminds me of someone....Osis, Usis, Esis....I swear, it's on the tip of my tongue... Oh well, moving on! This was not the first event of it's kind. The first, was held on September 22, 2016, and the man who claims responsibility for that one is one Pastor Jeff Fugate of Clays Mill Road Baptist Church. He said, in his morning sermon on September 25, 2016, that he went to Bevin with the idea, and Bevin was all like, "Gee willikers friend! That's an amazing idea!" and lo, there was "Pastor Appreciation Forum 2016."
Bruce Rabon, State Administrative Bishop at Kentucky Church of God State Office, spoke along Pastor Jeff Fugate, Governor Bevin, Rep. Stan Lee (R) HD 45, and possibly others of which I'm not aware.
Looking at his twitter profile, he does not care for LGBT persons, or women's rights, shocker, I know! Other notable names in attendance:
Representative David Hale (R) HD 74, who, on his facebook election page, has previously said in part "I have and will continue to stand for families, education and conservative values. A highlight of this was co-sponsoring the first piece of pro-life legislation to pass the House in 12 years." His email: david.hale56@yahoo.com
Larry D. Brown (R), who is running for State Representative in the 95th District against Greg Stumbo
Chris Fugate, Pastor of Gospellight BaptistChurch, running For State Representative 84th District, Brother of Jeff Fugate
Alrighty, now let me remind you of what Bevin said in that first video:
"...since 1954, do you know how many churches have lost their tax exempt status because of political speeches from preaching that has occurred? [audience: Zero, Praise God!] - Zero! The reality is it is an absolute paper tiger and there is no reason to fear it there is no reason to be silent, and if you have been exhorted and encouraged to have this boldness and this spirit, to be unapologetic, then I would encourage you to do it."
Governor Bevin's press secretary claims that "The Governor simply encouraged the ministers to preach boldly." Hogwash! The Johnson Amendment says:
Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.
Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.
On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.
So, when the governor tells them to ignore the Johnson Amendment, what he's really telling them is "Go forth my children, and preach Republican politics, so that we may flipith the House, and I may have full control over the Legislature!" And what did they respond with? "Amen! Heil Bevin!"
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