Additionally, tax exempt status also is an American device for regulating religioous meddling in politics. As pastors of churches we can advocate for issues, but not for specific candidates if we want our church to retain its tax exempt status. Since I will almost always be part of a religious minority, I dread the evolution of America into a state with Iraqi-style sectarian endorsed parties, candidates, and platforms.

In the rural community where I once served, our church was not taxed for services; but did have to pay fees for the sanitation services we used (sewer, community well water, and garbage removal), and for maintaining the sidewalk put on the road in front of the church. That felt more like a feee for service arrangement with the local government. We were always able to refuse the fee, but if we did so we would get none of those services. And for a time we did refuse the garbage fee, and members packed out the trash themselves.