Sunday, August 27, doors will open at 4:30pm, program will begin at 5pm, First Community Church [North Campus], 3777 Dublin Rd.

In 1954, Congress approved an amendment by Senator Lyndon Johnson to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, including organizations that are organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes, from engaging in any political campaign activity. To the extent that Congress has revisited this ban over the years, it has in fact strengthened the ban. The most recent change came in 1987 when Congress amended the language to clarify that the prohibition also applies to statements opposing candidates. (IRS Publication - Charities, Churches and Politics)

On May 4, President Trump signed an Executive Order, “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty” directed at limiting or even abolishing the effect of the Johnson Amendment. As a result, the President has started a conversation and renewed an effort to overturn the Johnson Amendment and to allow charities and faith communities to engage in partisan politics without a threat to their non-profit status.

This year at the Main Event, three distinguished panelists: Joseph L. Mas (José Luis Mas), a trial attorney representing newly-arrived immigrants and refugees; James R. Beattie, Jr., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs/Professor of Law at Capital University and winner of the 2002 Teacher of the Year Award from the Association of American Law Schools; and James M. Childs, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, will discuss the possibilities and limits of political action and advocacy by faith-based communities.

Cost: $30 per person [vegetarian meal]

Deadline for non-refundable reservations: August 15, 2017.

Contact: 614-849-0290 or iaco@iaco.org

Registration: http://iaco.org/events/the-main-event/