Tax Churches Research Paper

Black Churches were extremely importan to African Americans from the years of slavery to this very day. Although attending them was difficult for blacks, they became the core of African American communities. “The biracial churches the Awakening spawned had never embraced African Americans on an equal basis with white people, and as time passed, white people denied black people significant influence in church governance” (pg. 101). Richard Allen and Absalom Jones would lead a movement and gain permission to use a church at evening times to preach to blacks. They would be forced out and need to establish a church of their own. White leaders would try to take over control of Mother Bethel congregation until 1816. This resulted “Mother Bethel becoming the birthplace of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME)” (pg.

By the late eighteenth century, the states had different ways to help the poor. In colonial Virginia, charity was left to the Anglican Church, then recognized as the official church of the state. This status ended in 1785 with Virginia’s Statute for Religious Freedom. The commonwealth’s government insisted that counties make a centralized place to care for the poor, rather than providing door to door relief. The government appointed Overseers of the Poor, who in turn collected a Poor Tax. This was used to fund the

The Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013 (H.R. 592), is a bill that would correct this and allow relief funding to go these organizations. So far the bill has passed the House by a large margin. The bill is also being criticized by it’s opponents for it’s use of taxpayer money to help tax-exempt organizations as well as violating the principle of separation of church and state.

The process by which Scripture has been preserved and compiled is one whose history is worth noting. The early church had many opportunities to share the Good News of Christ via word of mouth, but from the time of Christ’s resurrection until the mid-second century, there had not been a single culmination of writings considered to be essential for the purposes of

“The power to tax involves the power to destroy.” This is what the Supreme Court determined in the landmark decision of McCulloch v. Maryland. Presently churches or religious establishments are tax exempt. Many people vividly oppose the government’s stance on the issue, but though the government does many things wrong, as many will tell you, this is not one one of them.

In a podcast on his church and Eminent Domain, “a New York church's founder, Reverend Fred Jenkins, says the town of North Hempstead in 1998 exercised eminent domain and took the sanctuary as part of plans for a shopping and housing complex. Jenkins says that was a blow to his congregation.” Why does one church even matter? Are the shopping and housing complex not going to directly benefit the public as people shop or look for residences? Jenkins thinks otherwise, explaining, “We'd been feeding people that were hungry and paying for their lights when their lights was out and buying Pampers for their kids when their babies was in need. If you put an apartment building there, nobody in that apartment building would do the same thing for the people that the church will do.” The church not only represents an institution of faith and prayer; it represents a home that people can turn to in times of struggle. Which should be more supported: the close-knit feeling of community that the church provides, or the economic profit by way of a mall and apartment building? Can or should religious liberty ever be sacrificed for economic redevelopment? As Mr. JOHN MAUCK (Attorney to Jenkins) puts it, “The ability to have a place to assemble, to come together, is integral to almost every faith. It's fine to say you can believe what you want in your head, but free exercise of religion really involves meeting

Explain the argument over whether or not this should be considered a tax instead of

Neither a state nor a federal government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force... a person to go to or remain away from church against his

The economy is the strength of a nation it is the provision to finance an obstacle, however, that money also travels to churches to benefit the people and the building. Tax money is given to the churches to expand, yet money is utilized for personal gain. The "Massachusetts Constitution" implies “such moneys shall never be appropriated to any religious sect,” (Massachusetts, Article 29) churches have requested for money and deceived the people and implicated false information, nonetheless, a church is where God’s home associates and people will be giving money.

In many states, the state constitution or laws allow "institutions of purely public charity" to escape the payment of ad valorem and other taxes. The reasons articulated for such exemption vary but usually depend on the theory that these institutions provide services to truly needy individuals free (or nearly free) of charge or that they provide services the government would be required to provide if the institutions

This argument is based on information found on oyez.org. In 1963 a federal program, Higher Education Facilities, created grants for educational institutions. These institutions were sponsored by local churches. The grant specifically said the new buildings could have no religious associations for twenty years. After the twenty year period, the building could be used for any purpose the church needed it to. The grant attempted to neutralize the moral background that may influence the college students in the new building. In 1970 a law suit was filed. The sponsors believed if they were sponsoring these educational institutions, they should be able to use the building for religious reasons. In 1971 the court decided the twenty year wait for the building to be able to be used for any recreational purpose was unconstitutional. The court argued grants are considered federal aid; therefore, the federal government has no right to intervene with religious purpose. The first amendment claims the federal government cannot deny anyone of practicing religion anywhere including in a granted building. The court also said since the money was not used to fund religious activity the building was like any other building. The court believed college students would be able to decide with their own opinions on rather to attend these church services. The services were not mandatory to attend. Also, the court decided the period

license), called capitalism or unbridled laissez faire. We find that in the late 20th century and early 21st century, the economic corruption of American Christianity has become endemic, especially in the mega-churches. It has been reported that Franklin Graham earns $800,000/yr and Rick Warren $900,000/yr. Widespread, all too many super large churches of both liberal and conservative persuasions, Old World or New World convictions, are misusing their stewardship, cooking their books, exploiting the congregation, and for some, outright corruption. By way of their tax-free

The Lord has called Brother Edward Wright to be your Pastor and Teacher here at Cedar Grove Baptist Church. He has been called by God and recognized by you, the congregation, to be your under-shepherd. He has a high calling from God to lead you and to love you and has an even greater accountability for his service here to our Savior in the Day he stands before Christ.

Donations should not be required to be paid, therefore requiring all American people to give away any extra money that is not needed for basic necessities should not be mandatory. Taxes are something that is required of all US citizens, it’s money that the government receives from the citizens and are used for things like public works to do things like paving roads, schools, and new additions. A donation on the other hand is something that is not required of citizens, it is a decision that is meant to be made

A not for profit organization is a corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive (Legal, 2013).” There are immense community benefits as a not-for-profit generally accepts everyone regardless of ability to pay. Nonprofit organizations are granted tax-exempt status which helps them to provide services to the public and are expected to be effective managers of their finances as well as being efficient (Financial Management, 2010). In doing so, they can gain exemptions from federal and state incomes taxes and have the ability to solicit tax-deductible contributions (Financial Management, 2010). Organization must follow legal financial