News-Record.com

The following is a Counterpoint.

By the Rev. Julie Peeples

On March 5, the News & Record ran a cartoon concerning the United Church of Christ and the IRS. Since there had been no reporting of this story in the paper, I have received numerous calls and e-mails asking what this is about.

Basically, the UCC's leadership received a letter from the IRS informing them of an investigation into Barack Obama's appearance last June at our biennial gathering in Hartford, Conn. The IRS is considering revoking the UCC's tax-exempt status because of it. There are important issues at stake, among them the upholding of the principles of separation of church and state, the freedom of the church to engage in dialogue and education about faith and the public/political sphere, the freedom of speech and association. These are matters of great importance to members of all faith traditions.

I am no expert on tax law, but I attended the June event and can attest that all attendees were emphatically instructed that this was not to be a campaign event. No posters, chanting, buttons or any such campaigning were allowed. Campaign volunteers did set up a table outside the arena, where church officials had no jurisdiction.

Obama, an active, 20-year member of a UCC congregation, had been invited to speak a year before he became a candidate. Other candidates have made similar appearances at various churches and denominational gatherings. I am confident that the IRS will conclude the UCC acted within the law.

With this story, as with all developments in this election year, it is crucial that people obtain information from reliable sources. More information on this particular issue and Obama's actual speech can be found at www.ucc.org, as well as the Web sites for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Washington Post. There have been several spurious e-mail efforts seeking to discredit Obama, casting aspersions on his faith, his church, even his pastor. No doubt this latest story will be used, distorted in ways that suit the anger of some rather than serving the truth.

My greatest hope is that we will keep the focus on the issues that truly matter, allowing our values, our faith to inform our decision-making and the way we exercise our freedom. How amazing it would be if these coming months could bring out the best rather than what is most destructive and hateful in our society. Our faith demands such; our nation needs and deserves such.

The Rev. Julie Peeples is pastor of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Greensboro.