The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not revoke a California church’s tax-exempt status, thanks to intervention by the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF).
Americans United for Separation of Church and State informed the IRS last year that Wiley Drake, pastor of First Baptist Church of Buena Park, had been making political endorsements in e-mails and on his radio show. The IRS concluded that Drake acted as a private citizen and did not violate IRS code.
“Americans United should be ashamed of its tireless efforts to get churches in trouble based on flimsy allegations in complaint letters,” said Rev. Dr. Lu T. Nguyen, an ADF-allied attorney and Episcopal priest. “We’re pleased the IRS saw the truth here, but as most people realize, going through an IRS investigation is punishment in itself.”
