Will Tenn. gov't be allowed to decide what 'ministry' is?
Alliance Defending Freedom attorney available to media after hearing
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012
WHO: Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley
WHAT: Available for media interviews following hearing in Christ Church Pentecostal v. Tennessee Board of Equalization
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 14, immediately after hearing which begins at 9 a.m. CST
WHERE: Tennessee Court of Appeals, Middle Division, Davidson County, 401 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley will be available for media interviews Wednesday following Stanley’s oral argument before the Tennessee Court of Appeals in a lawsuit that challenges the government’s authority to make decisions about how Christian ministry is defined.
Christ Church Pentecostal is appealing a lower court’s decision to deny the church tax-exempt status on part of its property under the argument that they are not an integral part of the church’s ministry even though the facilities, a gymnasium and non-profit bookstore, are used exclusively for ministry outreach. Tennessee law allows similar facilities that are not on church property to be tax-exempt.
“Churches shouldn’t be treated differently than other entities in Tennessee--such as college bookstores, family wellness centers, and hospital gift shops--that are tax exempt by law,” said Stanley. “Saying that such facilities are tax-exempt except if you’re a church is clearly wrong. It’s a widely known fact that churches across America effectively use facilities such as gyms and bookstores for clear, religious purposes and are exempt from property taxes just like other organizations that serve the community--often at a loss.”
In March 2007, the Davidson County Assessor denied Christ Church Pentecostal’s total tax exemption for its bookstore and gym. An administrative law judge upheld the decision in November 2009 but granted the gym a 50 percent exemption. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys appealed, arguing that the ruling conflicted with the church’s constitutionally protected rights, Tennessee Supreme Court precedent, and state statutes. Both the Assessment Appeals Commission and the Chancery Court upheld the judge’s ruling.
“Tax exemptions for churches are vitally important because it doesn’t make sense to penalize organizations that help serve the community and don’t exist for profit--and that’s certainly true with this church,” Stanley explained. “The taxing authorities in this case determined that the facilities were not integral to a religious purpose of the church, but when you look at the U.S. Constitution, that’s clearly a question for the church, not the state.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley will be available for media interviews Wednesday following Stanley’s oral argument before the Tennessee Court of Appeals in a lawsuit that challenges the government’s authority to make decisions about how Christian ministry is defined.
Christ Church Pentecostal is appealing a lower court’s decision to deny the church tax-exempt status on part of its property under the argument that they are not an integral part of the church’s ministry even though the facilities, a gymnasium and non-profit bookstore, are used exclusively for ministry outreach. Tennessee law allows similar facilities that are not on church property to be tax-exempt.
“Churches shouldn’t be treated differently than other entities in Tennessee--such as college bookstores, family wellness centers, and hospital gift shops--that are tax exempt by law,” said Stanley. “Saying that such facilities are tax-exempt except if you’re a church is clearly wrong. It’s a widely known fact that churches across America effectively use facilities such as gyms and bookstores for clear, religious purposes and are exempt from property taxes just like other organizations that serve the community--often at a loss.”
In March 2007, the Davidson County Assessor denied Christ Church Pentecostal’s total tax exemption for its bookstore and gym. An administrative law judge upheld the decision in November 2009 but granted the gym a 50 percent exemption. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys appealed, arguing that the ruling conflicted with the church’s constitutionally protected rights, Tennessee Supreme Court precedent, and state statutes. Both the Assessment Appeals Commission and the Chancery Court upheld the judge’s ruling.
“Tax exemptions for churches are vitally important because it doesn’t make sense to penalize organizations that help serve the community and don’t exist for profit--and that’s certainly true with this church,” Stanley explained. “The taxing authorities in this case determined that the facilities were not integral to a religious purpose of the church, but when you look at the U.S. Constitution, that’s clearly a question for the church, not the state.”
- Fact sheet on the case
Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund) is an alliance-building legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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