non 501(c)3 churches?

[Snakebite]

This may not be the place to post this but I'm going to ask...
Does anyone know of any non 501(c)3 churches in Ohio or other states close to Ohio?

[monkeybird]

Not familiar with any, anywhere. Are you looking so that your church doesn't have to follow federal guidelines?

[eeyore]

you might want to do a search, for non or un registered churches but are you looking for a denomination?

http://www.unregisteredbaptistfellowship.com/

[Snakebite]

I do not want to be unequally yoked with the government. With a 501(c) church you under the state and federal government's authority first instead of God's authority.
I am looking for a single church to learn how they operate.

[eeyore]

People don't realise how insidious the arrangement is. If you really consider how much control they can exert on a given church can be enormous. A church cannot just say i stop either. If they try that they can be forced to repay all monies that have been tax exempt in the past. All offerings, taxes not paid on land, taxes not paid on salaries and materials bought with their tax exempt status. So if they built a building they would have to pay all the back taxes on material and right offs they gave for the building, also. But not just that but interest also. It could add up quickly and churches could lose buildings and grounds behind it.

[Snakebite]

It is my honest belief that part of the reason why our country has "gone down the tubes" is because our churches have been afraid to speak out against the evils of society which our government endorses. Many politicians would not have been elected if the churches stood up and said, "don't vote for this canidate because he endorses abortion" and also address other such issues. If a 501(c)3 speaks out or gets politcaly active they endanger what eeyore has stated above.
I pastored a church for 17 yrs. and for the last 15 I've been on the road as an evangelist. God may be calling me back to pastor a church and I want to talk to a pastor of a non 501(c)3 to "test the water" to see if this His calling.

[antishot]

I know my church is a 501(c)3. But some of the people are like minded like my wife and I are. Some still have blinders on.

[barrister]

It is my honest belief that part of the reason why our country has "gone down the tubes" is because our churches have been afraid to speak out against the evils of society which our government endorses.

You are onto something here Snakebite. I am a lawyer of 22 years experience and I have put alot of thought into the church/501c dilemma. My conclusions are that the fear of losing the 501c tax exemption by getting into 'politics' is so great, that it has gagged our ministers into silence about the important issues of our day. Since tax law says you can lose that tax exempt status if you engage in politics, most preachers avoid anything that might be perceived as 'too political.' That's why you won't hear most preachers endorse a candidate anymore.

In this manner, the facist/socialist left has paralyzed what would otherwise be a great political force in American life. Whether it was intentional or not, that has been the result of federal income tax policy.

The very idea that one can divorce actions from beliefs is stupid. Our beliefs inform and direct our actions in life; we all act on our beliefs. For ministers to preach a belief but avoid preaching its implications in our daily lives--that is, what actions we should/should not take, is an abdication of their job as preachers, in my opinion. I just read a great article on this topic; I hope you will too: http://www.infowars.com/romans-13-setting-it-straight/. He says it well, so I don't need to here.

According to that article: Our second President, John Adams, put it this way: “It is the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourses to the times, to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and recommend such virtues as are most wanted." And Martin Luther put it this way: “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved."

All that said, recall the last election and Obama's minister, Rev. Wright. That guy was extremely political in his sermons. Yet his church was never attacked by IRS to revoke it's tax exempt status. Why do you think that is? Because his church was black and leftist. Clearly, the tax law is being selectively enforced. Conservative churches are singled out for scrutiny while leftist ones are not. This is yet another form of gov't tyranny of our times. And it must be put to an end if liberty is ever to be had in this country again.

[heyman]

have you found any yet???? eeyore and i have talked about this same issue a number of times

[bushrat]

I believe many churches go the "tax exempt" route because they don't really understand the tax law. They're afraid they won't be able to receipt tithes to the church, but that is simply not true. I have planted new churches before and have studied the regulations concerning 501(c)3 status, and as long as a church is actively involved in carrying out the functions of a church, such as services, weddings, funerals, etc. then they are considered a valid church in the eyes of the IRS, even without a 501(c)3.

IRS Publication 557

"Churches. Although a church, its integrated auxiliaries, or a convention or association of churches is not required to file Form 1023 to be exempt from federal income tax or to receive tax deductible contributions, the organization may find it advantageous to obtain recognition of exemption. In this event, you should submit information showing that your organization is a church, synagogue, association or convention of churches, religious order, or religious organization that is an integral part of a church, and that it is engaged in carrying out the function of a church."

[Edgemont]

Chuck Baldwin has a list of non 501(c)3 churches on his website.