housechurchcropped

Pastor Housing Allowance on Thin Ice

Share:

housechurchcroppedWhen pastoral scandals hit the mainstream news, often the first item cited as evidence that a minister is misusing his or her position is the housing allowance tax break that allows pastors to deduct housing expenses from their income. Sometimes the pastor in question will claim his entire salary as housing allowance. For others, its the sheer size of the allowance that raises suspicion.

At the request of Senator Charles Grassley, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) will lead the independent commission to investigate and offer recommendations to lawmakers on a list of eight issues related to ministry ethics and finances. Housing allowances are near the top of the list.

A 2009 lawsuit filed in California by the Freedom from Religion Foundation argued the housing allowance tax benefit violates the Constitution’s Establishment Clause. A government request to dismiss the case was rejected in 2010, allowing it to proceed to trial. Experts like Richard R. Hammar, an attorney and senior editor of the Church Law & Tax Report, are concerned that its outcome may spell the demise of the benefit.

Share:

Leave a Reply


More Spiritual Content
RFK Jr. Admits to Regular Prayer, Secular Rally Crowd Erupts in Applause
Gateway Church Ousts Multiple Elders Following Shocking Investigation
Christian School Banned for Team Refusing to Play Trans Athlete
Rise of ‘Demon Pronouns’ Reveals a Culture in Spiritual Crisis
Pastor Ché Ahn: Donald Trump Is a Changed Man
What Every Christian Needs to Know for November 5th
Joni Lamb and Perry Stone: The Truth Behind the 2024 Election
An Open Letter to President Trump: America’s ‘Nineveh Moment’ Foreseen by Billy Graham, a Call for Repentance and Revival
Don’t Lose Sight of Your God-Given Destiny
Prophetic Word: What Happens After the Election
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Most Popular Posts

Latest Videos
72.9K Subscribers
966 Videos
7.1M Views
Share