A national church-state watchdog organization has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether a Tulsa church led by congressional candidate the Rev. Jackson Lahmeyer improperly used church resources to support his campaign for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District seat.
According to a report by The Oklahoman, the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a complaint seeking an IRS investigation into Sheridan Church, where Lahmeyer serves as pastor. The organization alleges the church may have provided support and resources for Lahmeyer’s campaign, potentially violating federal rules governing tax-exempt churches.
The complaint centers on Lahmeyer’s public statements telling supporters they could pick up campaign yard signs at Sheridan Church. Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said churches exempt from federal taxes are not permitted to function as campaign headquarters for political candidates.
Lahmeyer disputed the allegations.
“Sheridan Church is not the headquarters for my campaign,” Lahmeyer told The Oklahoman. He said his campaign has paid to rent the church venue for events and that those expenditures are disclosed in Federal Election Commission reports. Lahmeyer also said campaign signs are available at several locations, including the Tulsa County Republican headquarters.
Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, tax-exempt organizations, including churches, are prohibited from participating or intervening in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office. The restriction, commonly known as the Johnson Amendment, has been federal law since 1954.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation said its complaint comes amid renewed national debate over the Johnson Amendment and warned that weakening the provision could effectively allow churches to operate as tax-advantaged political organizations while retaining their tax-exempt status, according to The Oklahoman.
