Best Of Worcester

This text is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of energy. Join ProPublica’s Large Story e-newsletter to obtain tales like this one in your inbox as quickly as they’re printed.

Additionally, join The Temporary, our each day e-newsletter that retains readers up to the mark on essentially the most important Texas information.

The endorsement of political candidates by non secular leaders from the pulpit has grown more and more brazen, aggressive and complex in recent times.

ProPublica and The Texas Tribune have discovered 20 obvious violations up to now two years of the Johnson Modification, a legislation that prohibits church leaders from intervening in political campaigns. Two occurred within the final two weeks as candidates crisscross Texas vying for votes. The variety of potential violations discovered by the information shops is bigger than the overall variety of church buildings the IRS has investigated for intervening in political campaigns up to now decade, in accordance with paperwork obtained via the Freedom of Data Act.

Below the legislation, pastors can endorse candidates of their private capacities exterior of church and weigh in on political points from the pulpit so long as they don’t veer into assist or condemnation of a specific candidate. However the legislation prohibits pastors from endorsing candidates throughout official church features equivalent to sermons.

Violations can result in the revocation of a church’s tax-exempt standing.

Descriptions of the 20 movies we recognized are under. ProPublica and the Tribune had three specialists assessment every of them. They agreed that the circumstances under violate the legislation. The specialists had been Lloyd Hitoshi Mayer, a tax and election legislation skilled on the College of Notre Dame; Ellen Aprill, an emerita tax legislation professor at Loyola Marymount College’s legislation college; and Sam Brunson, a legislation professor at Loyola College Chicago.

We’re not endorsing a candidate, however…

In these circumstances, pastors stated they weren’t endorsing candidates, however their actions equated to an endorsement, in accordance with the specialists. Some acknowledged that the legislation didn’t enable them to endorse earlier than making their statements.

Mercy Tradition

Location: Fort Value

Pastors: Landon Schott, Heather Schott and Steve Penate

Context: Pastors at Mercy Tradition expressed assist for political candidates in at the very least three sermons this yr. All three situations violated the Johnson Modification, in accordance with the specialists. Throughout one such occasion on Feb. 6, the Schotts and Penate spoke in favor of Nate Schatzline, who’s working for a seat within the state Home. “Now, clearly, church buildings don’t endorse candidates, however my title is Landon and I’m an individual earlier than I’m a pastor. And as a person, I endorse Nate Schatzline,” Landon Schott stated. Schatzline’s look ended with Schott stating: “We declare Mercy Tradition Church is behind you. We declare Mercy Tradition Church is praying for you. We declare Mercy Tradition Church is supporting you.” Early voting for the March 1 major started eight days after the church service. Schatzline certified for a runoff, which he gained on Could 24. He’ll face Democratic nominee KC Chowdhury, a Democrat, in Tuesday’s basic election.

Professional evaluation:

Brunson: “If it’s a part of the non secular providers, his disclaimer doesn’t work and it’s a transparent violation of the Johnson Modification (albeit an nearly intelligent, and undoubtedly self-aware, try and keep away from that). Penate saying ‘do one thing with us’ is totally an endorsement. In the event that they’re doing it of their capability as pastors, this violates the Johnson Modification.”

Church and candidate response: Mercy Tradition, Landon Schott and Heather Schott didn’t reply to questions or requests for remark. Each Penate, a church elder who stated he was not talking on behalf of the church, and Schatzline acknowledged in separate interviews that they didn’t consider any legal guidelines had been damaged. “Mercy Tradition has by no means endorsed anybody,” Penate stated. “Mercy Tradition has by no means advised anybody to vote a sure manner. By no means.”

Unite Church

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

Pastor: Josh Tanner

Context: On Jan. 16, Tanner launched his congregation to Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, and let her talk about how she expressed her religion throughout her profession in authorities. “OK, so I would like you to know that we’re not simply gonna be doing an endorsement for Kelly right this moment, though I’m endorsing Kelly for U.S. Senate. And you’ll vote for whoever you need. I’m simply letting you recognize who I’m voting for. It’s gonna be her.”

Tshibaka was among the many high candidates to advance to the November basic election. She’s going to face incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Patricia Chesbro on Tuesday.

Professional evaluation:

Aprill: “That the pastor says he personally endorses the candidate at an official perform of the church makes the assertion marketing campaign intervention.”

Church and candidate response: Unite Church, Tanner and Tshibaka didn’t reply to requests for remark.

“Uncle invoice”: a brand new “household”-based technique

Some church buildings coordinated with each other to offer their congregations with a listing that singled out particular candidates and omitted others.

Gateway Church

Location: Southlake

Pastor: Robert Morris

Context: Morris is amongst a gaggle of Dallas-area pastors who’ve coordinated to spotlight sure candidates working for public workplace. Since 2021, Morris has proven his congregation the names of particular candidates for workplace at the very least thrice. In every of these circumstances, Morris violated the Johnson Modification, in accordance with specialists. (Morris additionally confirmed the names throughout an Oct. 23 service.) Throughout an April 18, 2021, sermon, a day earlier than the beginning of early voting, Morris displayed the names of 9 candidates working in nonpartisan races for college board and Metropolis Council on a display. “And so we’re not endorsing a candidate,” Morris stated. “We’re not doing that. However we simply thought as a result of they’re a member of the household of God, that you simply may wish to know if somebody within the household and this household of church buildings is working.” All however one of many candidates whose names had been proven both gained their race or certified for a runoff.

Professional evaluation:

Mayer: “This can be a new (at the very least to me) approach, to hitch a gaggle of like-minded church buildings after which establish to the congregation anybody who’s a member of any of these church buildings who’s a candidate for elected public workplace, versus simply figuring out members of your congregation who’re candidates. However this method, even with the disclaimers made by the pastor right here, remains to be a violation of the Johnson Modification. Whereas the pastor tries to keep away from the violation by making varied disclaimers and saying he’s simply giving the congregation the names they usually can do what they need once they vote, these are usually not adequate to remedy the violation. However they do present an argument that there’s not a violation and so muddies the waters a bit, though I consider that argument finally fails legally.”

Church response: Lawrence Swicegood, Gateway Media govt director, stated in an emailed assertion:

“At Gateway Church:

We DON’T:

• Assist any particular political celebration
• Endorse political candidates

We DO:

• INFORM our church household of different church relations who’re searching for workplace to serve our neighborhood.
• ENCOURAGE our church household to vote as God leads them.
• PRAY for our elected officers no matter their political celebration, or affiliation.”

First Baptist Grapevine

Location: Grapevine

Pastor: Doug Web page

Context: On April 18, 2021, Web page confirmed his congregation the identical record of candidates as Morris. “This isn’t an endorsement by us. We aren’t endorsing anybody. Nevertheless, when you’re a part of a household, you’d wish to know if Uncle Invoice is working for workplace, proper? And in order that’s all we’re going to do is solely inform you,” Web page stated.

Professional evaluation:

Mayer: “This can be a violation of the Johnson Modification for a similar causes because the Gateway Church violations.”

Church response: “As is clearly acknowledged within the sermon clip you supplied, these candidates had been named for info solely, not for endorsement. First Baptist Grapevine doesn’t and won’t endorse candidates for public workplace. Our major focus is the gospel of Jesus Christ and searching for to comply with His will for our lives,” Web page stated in an emailed assertion.

Dueling endorsements

For these nonpartisan races within the Dallas-Fort Value space, pastors from totally different church buildings endorsed opposing candidates.

Koinonia Christian Church

Location: Arlington

Pastor: Ronnie W. Goines

Context: The primary race concerned candidates for the Mansfield college board. In a Could 1 sermon, Goines implored his congregation to vote for Benita Reed in a neighborhood nonpartisan race on Could 7. He stated that Reed was essentially the most certified candidate within the race as a result of she has labored in training for nearly 30 years, however that scare ways had been getting used towards her. He then confirmed a mailer concentrating on Reed that learn, “MISD put ‘woke’ politics over the security of our youngsters.” Then, Goines stated, “All we bought to do, individuals, is let’s go make an extended line exterior the polls and get this lady elected.” He later stated: “Koinonia, we want, Dr. Reed wants a thousand votes. She wants a thousand votes. We bought proper at 10,000 members.”

Professional evaluation:

Aprill: “This can be a direct marketing campaign intervention. He says, ‘She wants a thousand votes.’”

Church and candidate response: Reached by telephone, Goines directed the information organizations to the church’s spokesperson, who didn’t reply. Reed didn’t reply to emailed questions.

Extra Church

Location: Mansfield, Texas, southwest of Dallas

Pastor: Truston Baba

Context: Not one of the candidates acquired greater than 50% of the vote in the course of the Could 7 election, resulting in a runoff between Reed and Craig Tipping. Throughout a June 12 sermon, Baba inspired his congregation to vote within the runoff election. He then praised Tipping. “And so, Craig, thanks for working. Thanks for being obedient to do what God’s known as you to do. And I’m gonna assist you. And I hope that folks from Extra Church won’t simply complain however will truly get out and vote. , we go to the sales space, and we go to get these little stickers. ‘I voted.’ Y’all know you get the ‘I voted’ sticker? Come on. There’s an enormous one. Get out. Get the sticker. Let’s vote and assist make a distinction domestically. Come on. Give a hand for my good friend Craig right this moment.” Tipping, a bodily therapist, gained on June 18.

Professional Evaluation:

Aprill: “Having just one candidate seem is partisan. This pastor states at an official occasion that he helps the candidate. As famous earlier, that violates the prohibition. Furthermore, the pastor’s feedback are an endorsement of the candidate typically.”

Church and candidate response: Neither Extra Church nor Baba responded to requests for an interview or emailed questions. Tipping didn’t reply to emails requesting remark.

Life-Altering Religion Christian Fellowship

Location: Frisco

Pastor: Dono Pelham

Context: The second set of dueling sermons concerned two candidates in a nonpartisan race for Frisco Metropolis Council. On Could 2, 2021, Pelham advised his congregation that his spouse, Angelia Pelham, had certified for the runoff. He inspired them to vote within the June 5, 2021, election wherein Pelham confronted Jennifer White, a veterinarian who described herself as the one conservative within the race. “I’m not about to endorse, however you’ll get the message,” Pelham stated.

Professional Evaluation:

Brunson: “He’s mainly endorsing his spouse, and I believe it might be exhausting to argue something totally different.”

Church and candidate response: Dono Pelham stated in an emailed assertion that he didn’t endorse his spouse within the runoff. Angelia Pelham stated she and her husband had been “very clear and really intentional” about not violating the Johnson Modification.

KingdomLife Church

Location: Frisco

Pastor: Brandon Burden

Context: Six days earlier than that runoff election for the Frisco Metropolis Council, Burden supported White from the pulpit. Burden advised churchgoers that God was working via the congregation to take the nation, and significantly North Texas, again to its Christian roots. He framed the race between White and Pelham as one towards Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney. Cheney had urged residents to place celebration politics apart and vote for Pelham due to her expertise working for firms equivalent to PepsiCo Inc., The Walt Disney Co. and Cinemark. “I bought a candidate that God needs to win,” Burden stated. “I bought a mayor that God needs to unseat. God needs to undo. God needs to shift the stability of energy in our metropolis. And I’ve jurisdiction over that this morning.” Pelham defeated White within the election.

Professional evaluation:

Brunson: “It’s fairly apparent, from the context and different issues that he has stated, that it’s clear who he’s saying God needs to win.”

Church and candidate response: Neither Burden nor KingdomLife responded to a number of interview requests or to emailed questions. White stated she wasn’t in attendance in the course of the sermon. She stated she doesn’t consider pastors ought to endorse candidates from the pulpit, however she welcomed church buildings turning into extra politically energetic. “I believe that the church buildings over time have been an enormous fairly large disappointment to the candidates in that they gained’t take a political stance,” White stated. “So I might like it if church buildings would go forward and are available out and really focus on issues like morality. Not a particular celebration, however at the very least make certain individuals know the place the candidates stand on these points. And how you can vote based mostly on that.”

“Vote her behind proper out of workplace”: criticizing the incumbent, praising the challenger

Pulpit criticism of sitting officeholders is permitted, besides throughout campaigns when officeholders are working as candidates. Within the circumstances under, pastors criticized the incumbents whereas praising their challengers throughout election season.

Legacy Church

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Pastor: Steve Smothermon

Context: Throughout a July 10 sermon, Smothermon attacked New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who helps abortion rights, and praised Republican Mark Ronchetti for searching for to finish abortion in New Mexico. “We’ve the Depraved Witch of the North. Or you might have Mark Ronchetti,” Smotherman stated. Later within the sermon, Smotherman stated, “You higher get registered to vote, and we higher vote her behind proper out of workplace.” Grisham and Ronchetti will face one another in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election.

Professional evaluation:

Aprill: “This can be a marketing campaign intervention. The pastor is endorsing Ronchetti and opposing Ronchetti’s opponent.”

Church and candidate response: Legacy Church, Smothermon and Ronchetti didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Friendship-West Baptist Church

Location: Dallas

Pastor: Frederick Douglass Haynes III

Context: On the finish of the church service on Could 8, Haynes criticized state leaders’ response to the lethal February 2021 winter storm and praised Beto O’Rourke for donating $25,000 to the church throughout that point. Haynes then invited O’Rourke to talk together with his congregation. “I simply wish to say, as a result of I believe we have to know this in a really public manner, that when there was a disaster February final yr and the ineptitude of our state management, and then you definately had (Ted) Cruz going to Cancun. Lord Jesus, so Cruz went to Cancun after which (Greg) Abbott’s pals bought paid. And whereas that was happening, Beto O’Rourke was utilizing sources from his basis. He was on the bottom, serving individuals, blessing individuals and simply, simply, simply doing what God needs us to do.” O’Rourke, who introduced in November 2021 that he would problem Greg Abbott within the race for governor, then gave a 10-minute speech about how the religion neighborhood performed a pivotal position within the passage of the Voting Rights Act. O’Rourke was recognized as a gubernatorial candidate in a caption on the church’s livestream. He ended his Could speech by expressing hope that folks of shade who had been focused by the restrictive voting legal guidelines handed by Republicans final yr would offer the margin of victory on Nov. 8.

Professional Evaluation:

Mayer: “Assuming the church is chargeable for the caption (that ran beneath O’Rourke on the church’s livestream), it is a clear violation of the Johnson Modification as a result of the church explicitly identifies Beto O’Rourke as a candidate and the pastor expresses assist for him.”

Church and candidate response: Haynes didn’t reply to calls and emails requesting remark. Chris Evans, communication director for O’Rourke’s marketing campaign, stated in an emailed assertion: “Beto has loved worshiping alongside the congregation at Friendship-West Baptist Church for years and is proud to name Pastor Haynes his good friend. Pastor Haynes has lengthy led the on-the-ground work of bringing individuals collectively to ship for his neighborhood that Greg Abbott has completely failed and to struggle for equality, justice, and alternative throughout Texas.”

“My pricey good friend”: internet hosting a candidate

Some pastors launched candidates throughout their sermons and allowed them to talk, whereas others interviewed them throughout church features. The Johnson Modification permits candidates to go to church buildings and converse to parishioners earlier than elections, nevertheless it requires that church buildings keep a “nonpartisan environment” and provides all candidates the identical alternative to go to.

St. Luke “Group” United Methodist Church

Location: Dallas

Pastor: Richie Butler

Context: On Oct. 23, a day earlier than early voting started, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke visited the church. Butler launched him as “the following governor of Texas.” He advised parishioners: “We wish to encourage him as he continues to run the race that’s earlier than him, and he wants us to get him throughout the end line.” O’Rourke urged parishioners to vote after which gave a quick speech calling for fixing the state’s electrical grid and expressing alarm over the excessive fee of college shootings and gun violence.

Professional Evaluation:

Mayer: “This case is a transparent violation of the Johnson Modification. Beto O’Rouke is launched because the ‘subsequent governor of Texas,’ which highlights each that he’s a candidate and one whom the church helps. And O’Rourke’s feedback are a gross sales pitch for his candidacy. There isn’t any indication that any opposing candidate has been given an identical alternative and, even when he had been, the favorable introduction of O’Rourke would nonetheless be throughout the road.”

Church and candidate response: In a press release, Butler stated: “Black church buildings have been necessary hubs for civic engagement and group within the struggle for social justice since Reconstruction. The blending of faith-based congregations and electoral engagement shouldn’t be a brand new idea.” O’Rourke didn’t reply to a request for remark or emailed questions.

Grace Woodlands

Location: The Woodlands

Pastor: Steve Riggle

Context: Additionally on Oct. 23, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican working for reelection, visited Grace Woodlands. In the course of the sermon, Riggle stated that Texas wants leaders like Patrick who “will stand for values which can be important to the way forward for this nation.” Riggle praised Patrick as a “sturdy individual” of religion whom “God has given us on the very high.” Patrick then spoke to the congregation and solid the election in stark phrases. “This isn’t a race between Republicans and Democrats,” he stated. “This can be a race about darkness and light-weight. This can be a race about powers and principalities. And the satan is at full work on this nation.”

Professional Evaluation:

Brunson: “This can be a clear endorsement of Patrick by the pastor of a church appearing in his capability as pastor in the middle of strange church conferences. This violates the Johnson Modification.”

Church and candidate response: Riggle stated that his church didn’t endorse any candidate and stated his introduction was targeted on biblical values, not politics. He added that he believes the Johnson Modification ought to be overturned.

“The federal government has no proper at any time to, in any manner, inform the church who it could possibly have or who it can’t have to talk,” he stated. “It might’t inform the church what it could possibly preach on or not preach on. That is America, and we consider in a free church, not one managed by the federal government.”

Patrick didn’t reply to requests for remark or emailed questions.

Sojourn Church

Location: Carrollton, Texas, north of Dallas

Pastor: Chris McRae

Context: Throughout a Could 1 sermon, McRae advised parishioners that they had been being lied to by an “invisible enemy” about problems with race, gender and abortion. He stated they wanted to “get up” and confront the lies. McRae then invited Kevin Falconer, the mayor of Carrollton and a Republican candidate for Denton County Commissioner, to the pulpit to talk. “I can’t, as my pals will say, I can’t endorse him. However I do know that God loves Falcons,” McRae stated. He additionally advised his congregation he thought Steve Babick would win the upcoming nonpartisan mayoral election to fill the emptiness left by Falconer. Each Falconer and Babick gained their elections.

Professional evaluation:

Aprill: “That’s marketing campaign intervention to me, though the pastor states that he’s asking Kevin to discuss communion. Context makes it an oblique marketing campaign intervention.”

Church and candidate response: Sojourn Church, McRae and Falconer didn’t reply to requests for remark. Babick stated he was unaware of any statements McRae made about him or his candidacy. “I’m not essentially in favor or towards it,” Babick stated of the Johnson Modification.

Woodlands Church

Location: The Woodlands

Pastor: Kerry Shook

Context: On Jan. 16, Shook launched Christian Collins to his congregation. Collins was campaigning for the Republican nomination for Texas’ eighth Congressional District, which incorporates components of Houston and a number of other surrounding cities. “And so, the primaries are arising in March, and I simply wished y’all to get to know Christian, my pricey good friend, and his love for Jesus Christ and pray for all of these Christ followers who’re doing one thing that I might by no means do,” Shook stated. The sermon occurred two and a half months earlier than the Republican major election. Collins misplaced the race.

Professional Evaluation:

Aprill: “Particularly naming the first and the candidate and saying we want Christ followers makes it marketing campaign intervention to me.”

Church and candidate response: Woodlands Church, Kerry Shook Ministries and Kerry Shook didn’t reply to requests for remark. By means of a spokesperson, Collins declined to remark.

Ample Life Church

Location: Willis

Pastor: Dave Stovall

Context: On the finish of his sermon on Dec. 5, 2021, Stovall launched Collins as a candidate for the eighth Congressional District. He praised Collins for founding the Texas Youth Summit, a two-day convention that promotes conservative political activism amongst college students. “Would you stand in honor of Christian Collins and the chief, servant-leader that he’s and what he has completed for this neighborhood?” Stovall requested. Collins had pledged to hitch the congressional Freedom Caucus, a voting bloc made up of a number of the most conservative members of Congress, in distinction to his chief opponent, former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell, who gained the Republican major.

Professional Evaluation:

Mayer: “This can be a clear violation of the Johnson Modification for a similar causes because the earlier passage from Woodlands Church. (The similarity of this passage and the one from Woodlands Church makes me marvel if the pastors had been given urged scripts from the identical supply.)”

Church and candidate response: Ample Life Church and Stovall didn’t reply to requests for remark, together with the information organizations’ query about whether or not it had invited Luttrell or some other candidate to talk on the church. By means of a spokesperson, Collins declined to remark.

Future Christian Church

Location: Rocklin, California, northwest of Sacramento

Pastor: Greg Fairrington

Context: In a dialog with California gubernatorial candidate Anthony Trimino, a Republican, throughout a Could 15 church service, Fairrington advised his congregation that the state wants a pacesetter with a “vibrant religion in Jesus Christ.” He praised Trimino for his effort to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and prayed for the Republican candidate. “Lord God, that you’d encourage voters right here within the state of California to solid their vote for the sanctity of life. Lord God, that they’d get behind a conservative Christian candidate,” Fairrington stated. Trimino got here in sixth in an open celebration major election on June 7. He didn’t advance to the November basic election.

Professional Evaluation:

Mayer: “This passage is a transparent violation of the Johnson Modification as a result of it implicitly identifies Anthony as a candidate, particularly mentions voting and calls on the viewers to get behind a conservative, pro-life Christian candidate (implicitly, equivalent to Anthony).”

Church and Candidate Response: Future Christian Church, Fairrington and Trimino didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Carver Park Baptist Church

Location: Waco

Pastor: Gaylon P. Foreman

Context: On April 7, Foreman livestreamed a Q&A on the church with Marlon Jones, a candidate for the Waco Impartial College District college board. “Once more, I endorse him absolutely and utterly, and I want that you’d prayerfully contemplate serving to assist this mighty man of God, so he might help make kingdom impression on the Waco ISD,” Foreman stated. Consultants stated Johnson Modification violations can happen at any church perform, not simply throughout sermons. Jones misplaced the Could 7 election.

Professional Evaluation:

Brunson: “This pastor doesn’t even fake to not be endorsing the candidate, which is the sincere method. He’s clearly endorsing.”

Church and candidate response: Foreman defended his dialogue with Jones. “I advised him in regards to the present and he agreed to seem. I didn’t hear from or have some other contact with some other candidates or I might have gladly allowed them to seem as effectively,” Foreman stated. “On the present, I did acknowledge that I personally supported him and that I felt that he was the perfect candidate. I additionally requested about how our neighborhood might assist him. For so long as I’ve been serving as pastor, I’ve all the time made it clear that I by no means inform others who to vote for however do encourage everybody to vote.”

Jones stated in an interview with the information organizations that he thought Foreman supplied info and didn’t violate the Johnson Modification. “I believe in the course of the broadcast Pastor Foreman was very intentional about encouraging individuals to vote however not essentially saying that is who we should always vote for.” Jones, who can also be a pastor, added: “Saying ‘that is one thing I’m doing’ doesn’t essentially imply your congregation will do this.”

Praising Trump earlier than the 2020 election

Within the days main as much as the 2020 election, some pastors extolled the methods wherein former President Donald Trump had delivered for Christians.

Cowboy Church of Corsicana

Location: Corsicana

Pastor: Derek Rogers

Context: On Oct. 14, 2020, Rogers advised his congregation that though pastors aren’t supposed to speak about politics, parishioners wanted to assist Trump’s reelection bid. “I don’t perceive how anyone that calls himself a Christian might vote for the agenda and the platform of Joe Biden,” he stated. “President Trump, he ain’t the best dude in the entire world, however he’s the closest factor that we bought to what we want.”

Professional Evaluation:

Mayer: “This can be a clear violation of the Johnson Modification as a result of it identifies two candidates by title and explicitly tells the congregation for which ones they need to vote.”

Church response: Rogers didn’t reply to requests for remark.

Beth Sar Shalom

Location: Carrollton

Pastor: Steven Ger

Context: Ger defined to congregants why they need to assist Trump over Biden for president two days earlier than the election. “I like what our president has completed. He made his guarantees. And he saved his guarantees.” He later known as Trump the “most pro-life president ever” and stated, “Vice President Biden can be essentially the most pro-abortion president ever.”

Professional Evaluation:

Mayer: “The passage is a transparent violation of the Johnson Modification as a result of it identifies two candidates, describes their positions after which says which place (and subsequently candidate) ought to be voted for.”

Church response: Govt Pastor Don Jones initially stated he was keen to be interviewed, however neither he nor Ger responded to follow-up calls and emailed questions.

Trinity Household Church

Location: Forney

Pastor: Marty Reid

Context: In a sermon two days earlier than the Nov. 3, 2020, election, Reid advised his congregation that though Trump “doesn’t know a lot” about Christianity, “I consider God has raised up President Trump for such a time as this.”

Professional Evaluation:

Aprill: “Clearly an endorsement of Trump and marketing campaign intervention.”

Church response: Trinity Household Church and Reid didn’t reply to requests for remark.