Religious leaders: Lawmakers need to ask voters to raise taxes ... (State of Washington)

The News Tribune ^ | 4-8-09 | Joe Turner

[Jo Nuvark]

The Tribune would not let me capture any text, but I urge you to read this outrageous letter from "Religious Leaders". ***** This is out of line and insulting that even my Nazarene District Superintendant signed it. ***** It's true... Even the elect will be deceived!

[Jo Nuvark]

Washington State Religious Leaders
under the socialist spell ... PING!

[WayneS]

Religious leaders: Lawmakers need to ask voters to raise taxes ... (State of Washington)

Taxpaying Citizen: State of Washington Voters need to ask "Religious Leaders" to STFU.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to Jo Nuvark for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

Quick link: WA State Board

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[Alex Murphy]

Here's the text of the letter, Jo:

Open Letter on the Need for Revenue from Religious Leaders

What kind of state do we want to live in?

We believe all caring citizens want to live in a state where life’s basic necessities are met.

As religious leaders of Washington State we call upon our legislators to face the daunting challenge of balancing the state budget, with its $9 billion revenue shortfall, with courage and compassion. This cannot be accomplished without increasing revenues.

The massive budget cuts proposed in the Governor, House and Senate budgets devastate life line services such as childcare, public health, health care for kids and adults, housing and care for seniors. It denies opportunities for a quality public education essential for our children’s future. Public services are more important than ever when families lose jobs, lose healthcare and are otherwise economically stressed. To live up to our moral responsibility for the common good, we must find ways to raise additional revenues.

[More:]

In times like this, we need visionary leadership – that is why we call upon the best minds available to identify additional revenue sources that will be in the best interest of our communities and the least onerous upon lower to middle income workers. In our difficult situation there are some who are better able to bear the economic burden than others. We understand the impact of Initiative 960 and the supermajority vote required by both the House and Senate to pass any tax or fee increase. Because of this we urge the legislature to refer a ballot measure to the people that would maintain core programs that assist our most vulnerable residents: from our children, to our unemployed, to those without health coverage and without shelter, to those living with a disability, and to at-risk seniors.

Yes, we are doing our share in helping people in our communities get through these hard times, but as important as charity is, our churches and congregations are not equipped to maintain the critical social safety net programs and the investments of state government. As economists have said, cutting or eliminating services is not the solution. Maintaining services and keeping our current investments is a critical way to improve our sluggish economy. We call upon you as we call upon the members of our faith communities to join us in an effort to raise revenues recognizing that we live in a state with wealth and resources.

We urge you to fulfill your role as responsible legislators and we will fulfill ours as partners in educating and creating the public will to solve the challenges we face in this economy.

Sincerely

Rev. David Alger
Executive Minister – Associated Ministries of Tacoma & Pierce County

Rev. Paul Benz
Director – Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State

Ms. LeeAnne Beres
Executive Director – Earth Ministry/Washington Power & Light

Bishop Wm. Chris Boerger
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Northwest Washington Synod

Rev. Randy Craker
District Superintendent – Church of the Nazarene – Northwest District

Rev. Michael Denton
Conference Minister – Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ

Rev. Tom Ewell
Clerk - Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy

Rabbi David Fine
Director – Union for Reform Judaism Pacific Northwest Council

Rev. Shermella Garrett
Presiding Elder – African Methodist Episcopal Church

Bishop Grant Hagiya
United Methodist Church – Pacific Northwest Conference

Rev. Rebecca Hale
Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) – Northwest Region

Rev. Sanford Hampton
Assistant Bishop – Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

Sister Linda Haydock
Executive Director – Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center

Ms. Janine Larsen
District Executive – Pacific Northwest District of the Unitarian Universalist Association

Rabbi James Mirel
Washington State Coalition of Rabbis

Rev. Sharon Moe
Tacoma District Superintendent – Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church

Rev. Jack Olive
Assistant Dean - School of Theology & Ministry – Seattle University

Rev. Dr. Marcia Patton
Executive Minister – Evergreen Baptist Association

Mr. Michael Ramos
Executive Director – Church Council of Greater Seattle

Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop
Episcopal Church USA – Olympia Diocese

Rev. Bavi Edna Rivera – Bishop Suffragan
Episcopal Church USA – Olympia Diocese

Rev. Pat Simpson
Seattle District Superintendent – Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church

Very Reverend Abbot Tryphon
Russian Orthodox Church – All Merciful Savior Monastery

Bishop James E. Waggoner, Jr.
Episcopal Church USA – Diocese of Spokane

Bishop Martin Wells
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod

Ms. Alice Woldt
Executive Director – Washington Association of Churches

Ms. Mary Ellen Wood
Executive Director - Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington

For further information please contact Rev. Paul Benz

[sionnsar]

Happy (but not surprised) to see the Anglican Province of the Christ the King is not represented!

[djf]

I thought churches lost their tax exempt status if they engaged in political activities.

Is that not true?

Does somebody need to point that out to them?

[Star Traveler]

Any Southern Baptist Convention or NW Conservative Baptist Association churches in there? ... :-)

—

http://www.sbc.net/

http://www.cbnw.org/

[Star Traveler]

You said — I thought churches lost their tax exempt status if they engaged in political activities.

—

Some IRS documentation for churches...
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf

I don’t think that they were preaching from the pulpit to their congregations. I don’t believe they are prohibited from participating individually (outside of their church) in other political events.

But, see what that documentation in the IRS publication says. It’s supposed to be a handbook for churches.

[anniegetyourgun]

All of the apostate church. Thanks for naming names.

[djf]

They are specifically asking for something IN THE NAME OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CHURCHES.

Nobody who signed this thing said anything like “Joe Blow, truckdriver from Centralia”...

Anyways I just thought I’d mention it. You can bet if they asked to LOWER taxes, the big hats would be on their case about it...

[Star Traveler]

Well..., that’s why I gave you the IRS handbook for churches. They do address those issues in there...

[DLfromthedesert]

Why don’t they lobby for state sovereignty...take back the forests for logging? More jobs, more revenue.

[DakotaRed]

These “religious leaders” have it backwards.

We voters have to “request” our legislature to decrease spending. That’s what our TEA Party’s are about.

Any in Clark County or near by, don’t forget our Pork Protest, April 18 on the County Courthouse lawn, 11 AM to 1 PM.

Anywhere else there is one, go and attend. Send Olympia loud messages.

[dirtymac]

“I thought churches lost their tax exempt status if they engaged in political activities”

Not when they support the liberal socialist agenda. Speak out against abortion, gay rights, immigration, freedom of religion, etc. and hyour church will be driven to the edge by the IRS.

However, you need to look at what churches (?) are really signing on to this bunk. Most (many) are so liberal that they can hardly be classify as a Christian church.

[Mister Muggles]

GLAD I sold my house and exited that leftist sewer of Seattle two Summers ago...

[Jo Nuvark]

Thanks Alex!

[Eva]

The unions are starting their ad campaign today, as well. The health services union. I assume that is the SEIU, that passed that initiative to organize the day care and health care workers, under the guise of training. That is one of the unions that is suing Gregoire.

[Jo Nuvark]

I sent this to my pastor in hopes of starting a
conversation about the meltdown to luke warm
status of our church.

Without federal, state or any other kind of
funding, the church has always practiced welfare
by taking care of the widows and the orphans.
Legislated charity has trounced Scripture and the
common sense instruction from God’s Word ...

“No workee, No eatee”. (2Thessalonians 3:10)

What we have encouraged are lazy and promiscuous
people who expect to be taken care of by the Government.
Thanks to our not so educational system, these same
people have no idea from where the money comes.

“Who is John Galt?”

[anniegetyourgun]

Good for you. I hope your pastor takes note.

I am thrilled that mine is getting bolder with each passing month.