May 26, 2005 | Read Time: 1 minute
TAX WATCH
By Elizabeth Schwinn
A Baptist preacher who was accused of expelling some members of his congregation after they refused to support President Bush has resigned.
The move follows a complaint by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a watchdog group that asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the East Waynesville Baptist Church, in North Carolina. At issue is whether the church violated charity tax laws by engaging in partisan politics. Any congregation or group organized as a charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is prohibited from acting on behalf of a particular political candidate.
Members of the church said that the preacher, Chan Chandler, endorsed Mr. Bush from the pulpit last year during the presidential campaign and called on those who supported Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee, to “repent or resign,” according to a tape recording of one of the pastor’s sermons.
Nine church members said they were ousted earlier this month for their political views.
Mr. Chandler, through his lawyer, denied charges that he forced the members to leave the church. He said he was stepping down because “to remain would only cause more hurt for me and my family.”
