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Tax the Church’s Ministries!
Throughout its history, in every generation the Christian Church has come
under attack by the world. The church is once again under attack, this time
by the Michigan legislature and County Boards. God’s Holy Spirit will give
us the wisdom and courage we need to respond, but we must choose to act in
accordance with the Spirit’s lead.
The current threat to the church comes in the form of taxation through
licensing fees by the Health Department. What is this new tax? The County
says they are required by the State of Michigan to charge not-for-profit
corporations the same food license fee that for-profit restaurants are
charged: $500.00 per year.
In talking with and listening to our politicians I’ve discovered that few
will take responsibility for this action. The County says they don’t like it
but there is nothing they can do and they blame the State. The State says
the license fees to churches was not their intent, but to date the fees
remain. The law may change, but only if you, dear citizen, make it so.
The County says the State law means if we have any food function other than
no charge pot-luck dinners we must be licensed. Therefore, we must pay the
same license fee as a restaurant. This is true for all fund-raising dinners:
Youth Fellowship Spaghetti Dinners, Women’s Fellowship Spring Salad
Luncheons and Men’s Club Breakfasts, to name a few.
In addition to fund raising meals, the County also includes all of our food
ministries in their taxation mandate. So, as our church president, Tina,
asked so aptly of the Commissioners, “When we next talk about the church
budget must I tell the congregation the first $500.00 of our food ministry
program must go to the County not the hungry?”
I repeat my self: the County is going to tax our church’s ministries. If we
do not purchase the County food license we cannot legally continue food
ministries like our Feed the Hungry Program.
As you know, through your generous support we have for many years provided a
free hot breakfast and a sack-lunch to go every Saturday morning to a needy
and hungry segment of our population. We will not be able to continue that
ministry, or serve funeral luncheons, or any church food ministry unless we
give the County $500.00. Again, the same fee they charge a for-profit
restaurant.
A number of other ministers joined with me in addressing our concern to the
County Commissioners.
The Rev. Eaton of First Congregational UCC very eloquently informed the
County that they were infringing on our First Amendment rights. He explained
to the Commissioners that food ministries are a part of our worship mandated
by the Lord. I reminded Commissioners that in their vote they publically put
their support to the taxation of churches and their ministries.
Our pleas fell on deaf ears. With a “roll-call vote” the only Shiawassee
County Commissioner who dared to vote with us was Jack Johnson.
This is an assault on the separation of Church and State. Will the next fee
charged be for serving the Holy Communion elements of Bread and Wine? Will
we need a liquor license to serve Communion Wine?
This new law will affect not only your church, but all not-for-profit
agencies that want to serve food. The Eagles, the Moose, the Masons, the
VFW, the Marine Corps League, the Boy Scouts, all not-for-profits will be
affected.
The Shiawassee County Commissioners and County Prosecutor said they had no
choice but to obey the State law. The State of Michigan said they are
reviewing the law, but it is in committee. Who knows if and when it will
come out of committee and if so will it change? It is very clear that our
County Commissioners and County Prosecutor don’t have the courage to
challenge this unconstitutional law.
You can make a difference. Write and/or call your State Representative,
Senator and Governor. Write and/or call your County Commissioner and County
Prosecutor. Tell them this tax on not-for-profit agencies is not just wrong
but illegal.
Since 9-11 the government has used fear to accomplish what they otherwise
could not do. We have seen the erosion of many rights justified as necessary
in providing security. Fear of food handling is one of the tactics used in
this attack on the church. The only way this taxation can happen is if the
public allows it. The Spirit will empower you to act. I encourage you to do
so to God’s glory that Jesus’ food ministries may freely continue.
Your servant in Christ ~ pastor john
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