Pastors and churches are often confused about their right to speak truth from the pulpit on politicians and political issues. For 56 years, the IRS has wrongly attempted to silence pastors (the IRS code is over 3.4 million words long – almost five times longer than the Bible), and radical secularist groups such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State further attempt to intimidate churches and pastors into inaction.

   Yet today, more than ever, a pastor's voice must be heard, and Biblical truth must be brought to bear on current issues, including those of candidates and elections. Pastors do have the right to speak Biblical truth from the pulpit without fear of censorship or punishment from the government. Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a premier national legal group that defends the constitutional rights of Christians, has organized a concerted effort to push back against this unconstitutional government intrusion into the pulpit.

   In 2008, ADF launched the Pulpit Initiative to protect the right of pastors to speak freely from the pulpit on any and all issues addressed by Scripture. That year, thirty-three pastors from twenty-two states participated in "Pulpit Freedom Sunday," addressing civil issues, candidates, and the upcoming elections from a Biblical perspective. In 2009, over eighty pastors from 30 states and the District of Columbia participated.

   This year, Pulpit Freedom Sunday will take place on September 26, 2010. On that day, pastors from across the country will stand together to address the issue of candidates and elections from their pulpits.

   Your church can help make Pulpit Freedom Sunday a great success. Please visit www.speakupmovement.org/church for more information about how you can get involved in Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2010, or call (800) TELL-ADF. ADF will stand with pastors to protect their constitutional rights from censorship or intimidation.

   Daniel Webster rightly noted: "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it," and the freedom of the American pulpit is a liberty worth defending. We strongly encourage your church to contact ADF and let them know that you will participate in "Pulpit Freedom Sunday."