As you know, numerous pastors in America benefit from the Ministerial Housing Allowance law by receiving a tax-exempt allowance for their housing. Currently, the minister’s housing allowance is being challenged in court by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Our partner, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), is standing up for pastors and the housing allowance. They are writing a legal document, known as a friend-of-the-court-brief, that explains to the court why the housing allowance is constitutional and should be protected. If the opponents of the housing allowance win in the long run, every church in the nation will be impacted – including yours.
I know I don’t have to tell you the huge impact that revoking the housing allowance could have on ministries like yours. That’s why I wanted to make sure you were aware of the lawsuit and give you an opportunity to do something about it. ADF is inviting all pastors to sign onto the brief that they will soon submit to the court. By signing the brief, you are reminding the court of the importance of the housing allowance. It’s a great opportunity for the religious community to make our voices heard, and I hope you will join me in signing the brief today.
Collecting thousands of signatures will assist ADF in showing the court the substantial impact if the housing allowance is declared unconstitutional. But there is a limited amount of time before ADF must submit the brief to the court, and pastors must sign on by April 23rd to be included. Please read and sign it at your earliest convenience.
[SIGN THE BRIEF]
Tim Lubinus
Executive Director
(515) 408-0975
TLubinus@BCIowa.org
For more information about the minister’s housing allowance and what it means for churches and ministries, click here.
